Dr Chasity O'Connell
Licensed in the USA and in the UAE, Dr. O’Connell holds a doctorate in psychology, a masters
in counseling, and a masters in psychological science. Dr. O’Connell is a professor of
practice in the Psychology Department at AUS where she teaches in the Psychology Department and conducts research on psychological well-being and functioning, resilience, and the impact of social media. Dr. O’Connell is also the clinical director at Thrive Wellbeing Centre in Dubai, where she provides clinical supervision, consultation, and practices therapy. Dr. O'Connell has a strong commitment to community outreach and education. She has delivered workshops on various topics, including perfectionism, resilience, stress management, parenting, crisis recovery, psychological first aid, women’s mental health, and mental health awareness to diverse audiences in the UAE. Her expertise and dedication to the community have made her a valuable resource for individuals and organizations seeking support and guidance. As a practicing clinician, Dr. O’Connell uses an integrative approach to psychological therapy—this means that the core of her therapy is based on a Humanistic and insight-oriented approach while also incorporating the tools and strategies of evidenced-based therapies CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Who Do You Talk To When You Face A Clinical Problem? Exploring the Clinical Supervision Landscape in the UAE.
Clinical supervision and consultation are essential parts of ethical and effective therapeutic practice. While the research and literature are well-established regarding its numerous benefits, there is much to learn about the current practice of supervision and consultation practices the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE has become a major hub for people from all over the world, and has experienced unprecedented expansion in all major sectors, especially in mental health. Yet, despite this growth, research has yet to catch-up, especially in the areas of in-country education, training, and supervision of mental health professionals. The UAE has a diversity of therapists from all over the world. This diversity can provide a richness and depth to therapeutic practice that hopefully enables clinicians to meet the wide array of therapeutic, cultural, and linguistic needs of the population. At the same time, this also means that there is an extensive need in the area of training, supervision, and consultation. At this intersection of supervision/consultation and internationally-educated and trained therapists, this presentation seeks to explore the practice of clinical supervision, consultation, and training in the UAE across the professional lifespan, the nature of supervision-seeking behaviors (the how, what, when, and why clinicians seek supervision), barriers to supervision, and potential cross-cultural realities. In addition to exploring the topic of supervision and consultation, the goal of this presentation is to provide an uplifting, engaging and reflective session where attendees can feel more empowered in how they access and approach supervision.