The LightHouse Arabia

Just like life, our mental health can have good and bad days. Experiencing a down day where your mental health isn’t at its best is completely normal, as we are all human and are subject to change. Clinical Psychologist, Juan van Wyk explains what a healthy attitude towards mental health looks like. #DiscoverYourLight #healingjourney #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mentalhealthmatters #iamenough #selfimprovement #personaldevelopment #positivemindset #mindbodyspirit

This is possibly one of the most worthwhile initiatives I've run in a long time (and I am blessed to say that I've ran some pretty impactful ones in my time here at Omnicom Media Group (MENA)). We now have 23 certified Mental Health First Aiders across our offices in Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon that have been trained to recognise signs and symptoms of mental health challenges, have appropriate conversations and guide them to the resources they may need. It's a lifeskill, not workplace one, and it's my aim to grow a solid network of MHFA'ers across all agencies in our MENA network over the next couple of years. Unlike when physical first aid is needed, mental health challenges are often silent and invisible, yet both are so needed in the workplace. This was run in collaboration with The LightHouse Arabia

“Acts of kindness benefit both the giver and the receiver. It's a mutually rewarding experience which creates meaningful relationships and activates feelings of correctness and purposefulness” Rebecca Carter, Counsellor at The LightHouse Arabia speaks to MOJEH on how small acts of kindness, like saying hello or thanking someone, can create a "helper's high," boosting our mood and fostering a sense of community. #DiscoverYourLight #Kindness #HelpersHigh #CommunityWellbeing #Empathy #psychologydubai #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthfirstaid #mentalhealthadvocate

Classroom Management Workshop – Insights by Lighthouse Arabia Today, I had the opportunity to attend an incredibly insightful workshop on Classroom Management, organized by The LightHouse Arabia The session emphasized the importance of tiered interventions for effective behavior management in schools. One powerful takeaway: "YOU are the most important tool." As educators, our actions, modeling, and presence play the most significant role in creating a positive learning environment. Key highlights: Proactive strategies like clear expectations and sensory breaks. The role of personalized classroom interventions and teamwork. Importance of self-awareness and modeling behaviors for students. This workshop served as a reminder that building a supportive and structured classroom starts with us as educators. Looking forward to applying these strategies to empower my students and enhance their learning experience! #ProfessionalDevelopment #ClassroomManagement #TeacherLife #Education Manar Wehbe Nathalie C Shaar James Pastore

The growth mindset, a concept developed by psychologist Carol Dweck, is the belief that abilities, intelligence, and skills can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. It contrasts with a fixed mindset, where people believe their abilities are static and unchangeable. The word "yet" plays a powerful role in cultivating a growth mindset.  Adding "yet" to statements about challenges or limitations shifts the focus from current inability to the possibility of future success. For example: • Fixed Mindset: "I can’t do this." • Growth Mindset: "I can’t do this yet." This small shift encourages optimism, persistence, and a willingness to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. #DiscoverYourLight #SelfReflection #MentalHealth #MentalWellbeing #EmotionalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #TherapyMatters #EmotionalWellness #UAEwellness #psychologydubai

Especially in times of crisis, seeking community support becomes even more important. We find that people often join our mental health support groups to establish a sense of community and mutual understanding. Being in the company of those who have faced similar challenges allows for the sharing of personal experiences, emotions, and coping strategies, alleviating the profound sense of isolation that often accompanies life struggles. A one-time free Grief Consultation will be required before registering for a Grief Support Group. Please contact us at +971 (0)4 380 2088 to schedule an appointment with one of our Grief Support Specialists. #DiscoverYourLight #CommunitySupport #MentalWellbeing #EmotionalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #TherapyMatters #EmotionalWellness #UAEwellness #psychologydubai

Listening to emotional pain means acknowledging it fully and without judgment, allowing yourself to feel its discomfort rather than dismissing it with phrases like, “time will heal.” Time alone does not heal– tending to your pain with compassion and care + time heals. Start by noticing where this pain lives in your body—perhaps as tightness in the chest, heaviness in the stomach, or tension in the shoulders. With each deep breath, gently bring awareness to these areas and, as you exhale, envision releasing a bit of this pain. Respecting your pain involves validating it as a real and meaningful part of your experience, giving yourself permission to feel without needing immediate answers or solutions. By sitting with your pain, you build your emotional and mental muscle, expand your window of tolerance, and you create space for insights, self-compassion. One practice that allows for you to sit with, listen, and respect your pain with gentleness and compassion is Tara Brach’s RAIN meditation, • R – Recognize: Pause and take a moment to name what you’re feeling, whether it’s sadness, anger, fear, or something else. Labeling the emotion helps bring it into conscious awareness. Simply say to yourself, "This is [emotion]." • A – Allow: Let the feeling be there without fighting or suppressing it. You might silently tell yourself, “It’s okay to feel this way” or “I’m allowing this feeling to be here.” Giving permission to experience the emotion can release some of the resistance and tension surrounding it. • I – Investigate: With a gentle curiosity, ask yourself, “Why am I feeling this way?” or “What does this pain need?” Notice if the feeling has a particular place in your body—such as tightness in the chest or heaviness in the stomach. Try placing a hand on this area, and breathe deeply, focusing on it with kindness. • N – Nurture: Offer yourself compassion, as you would to a friend. You might silently say, “I’m here for you,” or “I care about this pain.” Place your hand over your heart, if it feels soothing, and imagine sending warmth and kindness to the part of you that is hurting. This act of nurturing can remind you that you’re not alone and that you deserve kindness and support. #DiscoverYourLight #lighthousearabia #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #therapymatters #psychologydubai #uaewellness #FeelYourFeelings #griefjourney #healingjourney

If therapy isn’t an option right now, there are still effective ways to support your mental health. Consider exploring evidence-based self-help books that offer strategies similar to those used in therapy. Here are a few to get you started: • Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection by Deb Dana • The Happiness Trap by Dr. Russ Harris • The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne • Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns • Mindsight by Daniel Siegel • 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman • Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine • Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker #DiscoverYourLight #MentalWellbeing #EmotionalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #EmotionalWellness 

Doomscrolling refers to the habit of continuously scrolling through bad news, often without pause, despite the fact that this news is saddening, distressing, or demoralizing. Farah Dahabi, LCSW, Director of Mental Health First Aid and Clinical Social Worker at The LightHouse Arabia talks about the harmful effects of “doom scrolling.’ “Doomscrolling is a coping mechanism where an individual tries to manage helplessness by continuously scrolling distressing news in an attempt to obtain as much information as possible…all it really does though is provide a false sense of security, and is seriously damaging to our health.” #DiscoverYourLight #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #SelfCare

It is important to actively and consciously tend to your nervous system multiple times a day, throughout the day. The pace of modern life and our day to day stress and hyperstimulation that we experience can be stressful for the mind and body. They put the nervous system into a heightened state of alert, activating the fight-or-flight response and flooding the body with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, it can become difficult for the body to return to a calm, balanced state, leaving the nervous system in a constant state of vigilance. This prolonged activation can lead to symptoms like anxiety, sleep disturbances, and physical tension, as the nervous system struggles to regain its natural equilibrium. #DiscoverYourLight #MentalHealthMatters #EndTheStigma #MindfulLiving #SelfCareJourney #DubaiMentalHealth #StressRelief #NervousSystemCare #AnxietySupport #BalancedLiving