Dr. Marina Hakimian

Dr. Marina Hakimian is a CDA-licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience supporting children, adolescents, families, and adults through life’s emotional, academic, and professional challenges. Born in Lebanon with Armenian roots and Canadian citizenship, Dr. Marina brings a rich multicultural perspective to her practice, enhanced by fluency in English, Arabic, and Armenian. She has been based in the UAE since 2013.

Dr. Marina’s approach is rooted in empathy and compassion, integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and incorporating techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and play therapy. She works collaboratively with parents, emphasizing the role of both mothers and fathers, and focuses on strengthening family dynamics to support children’s emotional development.

Her areas of focus include anxiety, depression, self-esteem and confidence issues, emotional regulation, behaviour management, academic and career stress, social skills, identity development, relationships, adjustment issues and parental mental health. Dr. Marina is particularly passionate about helping children through early identification and early intervention. Similarly, she supports teens to navigate adolescence and guides adults through personal and workplace-related transitions. Additionally, she supports women and men with various emotional challenges.

Dr. Marina holds a Bachelor’s in Social Sciences from the Lebanese University, a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Haigazian University, and a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Adler University, Chicago. Her early work centered around psychoeducational assessments for children with learning differences and counseling in educational settings. In Dubai, she has continued to collaborate with schools and broadened her services to support adults through their challenges.

An advocate for mental health awareness and early intervention, Dr. Marina has contributed to public discourse through articles, radio interviews, and podcasts. She is also an affiliate member of the American Psychological Association. Outside her professional life, she enjoys traveling, reading, and engaging with global psychological communities through conferences and continuing education.