Priory Dubai Medical Director provides EMDR trauma training to volunteer Jordanian Psychologists

Dr Walid Abdul-Hamid, has collaborated with the charity Trauma Aid UK to provide Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) training to volunteer Jordanian psychologists.

This training - which was co-ordinated by Dr Walid - has been given as a result of recent events on 25^th October 2018, which saw powerful floodwaters sweep away a school bus, and left at least 21 people deceased.

This Maakom campaign has been set up to provide outreach visits to affected families affected by the incident. They will be provided with psychological first aid, counselling and psychotherapy in addition to telephone line that will provide advice and counselling to Jordanians affected directly or indirectly.

As a result of his contribution, Dr Walid has received the Association Shield for his contribution to the Maakom campaign, where he has helped children and families affected by this tragic accident. The award was given by Professor Dr Suhaila Banat, the chair of the Department of Counselling Psychology at the University of Jordan, and Vice President of the Jordanian Psychology Association.

Dr Walid stated that “Trauma Aid UK has enabled me to give back to the Middle East and the Arab World where I was born and be involved in the mental health provision within the community once again.

“Since 2013 I have been providing trauma treatment training in Turkey and Tunisia. This year, I was able to do so in Jordan.

“The training we provide helps professionals to deal with increasing trauma-related mental health problems within their regions. During the training we completed in Jordan last month, which coincided with the Dead Sea disaster, I was able to share my knowledge of recent event trauma treatment with attending volunteer psychologists.

“Giving back is not only good for the health of that community in which you work but it is also good for the health of the volunteer too. Research has shown that volunteering helps to reduce stress, as helping someone promotes positive feelings, like optimism and joy.”

Dr Walid has recently published a book that summarise his experience in researching and helping homeless and displaced people. The book is published by a European academic publisher and available from MoreBooks here.

For more information about Trauma Treatment at Priory Wellbeing Centre Dubai, click here.