Choosing the right psychologist and clinic can be challenging and overwhelming. This is what some of our clients had to say about their experiences with us.
The best therapist in town, supported us in our journey of managing our conflicts and confronting our issues. Very structured in her approach. Thank you Dr Sara for your support
Male client who received couples therapy services from Dr. Sarah
I am thrilled to share my experience with Thrive and Dr Sarah Rasmi who had a great impact on my life. Dr Sarah’s insightful and professional guidance and unwavering support have helped me navigate through the most challenging time of my life. Through her expertise and approach I was able to overcome obstacles, work on myself and cultivate a deep understanding of life as a person and a wife. Dr Sarah is a remarkable Psychologist, I couldn’t thank her enough.
Female client who received couples therapy services from Dr. Sarah
I reached out to Dr Sarah having been newly married and going through many difficult situations with my partner, the majority of these things being completely new to me and I really needed help. There is a big stigma about men reaching out for help, but I think that is naive as there is no shame in doing so. Dr Sarah's strategy of sitting down with us each individually and then together was really helpful, it gave her the ability to give a completely neutral view for us both to look at how we can change our ways in order for us to develop our relationship.
Without Dr Sarah I would have failed my relationship without even trying and I will forever be greatful for her help and support.
I would highly recommend using Thrive's services - they might just save your life!
Male client who received services from Dr. Sarah
I have engaged the services of Dr Kate and Dr Ioannis initially in Nov 2021 and again in May 2023. They helped immensely with post-partum depression and anxiety, and also with trauma/grief. The combination of my sessions with both of them truly changed my life and helped me navigate the hardest experiences I’ve ever had to pass through. I will always be grateful for the support they provided me and for the positive change they have facilitated in my mental health. The centre admin is consistently responsive in terms of managing appointments, medical insurance claims etc.
I have already and will continue to recommend Thrive to family and friends.
Female receiving services from Dr. Kate and Dr. Ioannis
Dr Kate has been instrumental in the progress of my mental health. She's helped me dig deep and find patterns, behaviours and aha moments in between. I highly recommend her.
Female client who received services from Dr. Kate
From the first contact with Thrive, I knew I was in safe hands. The support team worked hard to match me with the correct counsellor, to ensure my needs were met and that our personalities complement each other.
From my first session, I was put at complete ease by Pashmi, who made me feel that all my points were valued and important. Conversations my partners and I have struggled to have over the last four years have been supported and guided in our sessions. The 'homework' we were given has allowed us to develop our skills of communication at home as well. Due to scheduling issues I now work with another, but the handover has been seamless and Pashmi worked hard to ensure I found the right person to support us.
I continue to go to Thrive each month, and feel it is a very valuable experience for me.
Female client who received services from Pashmi
I’ve been seeing Dr Kate for a year now, after trying 3 different therapists (over many years) I didn’t get past 2 sessions with anyone else. I decided at the beginning of 2023 to try again with someone else. Dr Kate is committed, very understanding and has helped me considerably to turn my mindset and my life around. I actually look forward to speaking to her now, I find it really helpful and a weight off my shoulders just to open up. I’m so glad I found Dr Kate and would recommend to anyone looking for help.
Female client who received services from Dr. Kate
Coming from someone who's suffered from debilitating mental health issues for over a decade and has seen countless therapists, I can confidently recommend Jessica Rosslee to anyone who wishes to live a life worth living. Jessica has helped me, not only overcome, but thrive despite my long-standing destructive patterns.
Before I started my sessions with Jessica, I was unknowingly misdiagnosed for years, prescribed the wrong medications, and feeling utterly hopeless with a practically nonexistent zest for life. She is the only therapist who brought the misdiagnosis to my attention and recommended the best psychiatrist for me to receive that life-changing evaluation. I'm finally taking the right medications, which helped me more than words can describe, and receiving the best guidance from my weekly sessions with Jessica.
I don't know where I would be if it weren't for her sharp mind and caring nature; my only wish is that you take this opportunity to reap the same benefits I have.
Female client who received services from Jessica Rosslee (M.A.)
I was going through a tough time when I decided to finally talk to a professional.
Dr.Sarah helped me overcome a personal issue I was facing between me and myself first and made me realize after 1 session how I should act about a family situation between my husband and I. She never pressured or told me what to do, she just led me to my decision.
The whole team at Thrive is very welcoming and nice and they make you feel as if you were at home :)
I would highly recommend you to checkout Dr. Sarah's clinic for any personal/family issue you're facing.
31-year-old female client who received services from Dr. Sarah
It is a shame we underestimate the enormous positive change we can bring to our lives with a little outside help. Dr. Sarah helps identify problematic thinking cycles that stop us from achieving our potential and provides compassionate, tailor-made assistance for a range of mental health issues. I am very encouraged and excited going forward with the tools she has provided me to better respond to my challenges. I feel many of us could very well use a little guidance at some point in our lives, and just asking for it makes a world of difference to our day-to-day experience and self-confidence.
29-year-old female client who received services from Dr. Sarah
I visited the Thrive Wellbeing Center for a number of sessions with Dr Sarah who was very professional and courteous; helping me a lot to cope with some difficulties and who was able to quickly build a climate of trust that made the sessions flow very easily. I'm very appreciative of the work Dr Sarah and her team do in making it easy to go through this process.
42-year-old male client who received services from Dr. Sarah
Having suffered with anxiety for many years and trying lots of self help techniques to manage it by myself, I finally reached out to Thrive Wellbeing Centre to start a course of CBT to try and get some practicals everyday help that could guide me through my anxiety. Dr Sarah was nothing short of amazing. Listening and gently guiding me along and encouraging me to change some long term habits and mindsets that I had, I gradually started to feel more confident that I could cope with my anxiety. It was a ‘two steps forward, one step back’ process at the start , but now I feel like I have the tools and inner voice to guide me through those anxious times when they arise. I couldn’t recommend Thrive Wellbeing Centre enough and I know if I need some more support I’ll be able to go back and pick up where I left off.
42-year-old female client who received services from Dr. Sarah
I am a student counsellor at Emirates International School Jumeirah and have referred many students to The Thrive Wellbeing Centre.
I have personally attended counselling workshops at the centre and have received many tools and strategies which I can apply in my job.
The ladies at Thrive Wellbeing Centre are approachable and try to accommodate and support where they are able to.
School Counsellor who has referred many clients to Thrive
During the academic year 2018/19 I was the Head of Inclusion at Kings' School Al Barsha. Dr Rasmi and Thrive provided us with ten parent workshops on a variety of topics from sleep, managing assessments, healthy eating, cyber safety, anxiety, and divorce (to name a few). Each workshop was planned, prepared and delivered to an audience of parents with care, consideration and contained informative and supportive information. Now I am moving to Jumeirah College I am happy to continue this relationship and support for our students and parents. Highly recommended.
Head of Inclusion at Kings’ School Al Barsha about the workshops that Thrive offered to their school community
Thrive Wellbeing Centre has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. I strongly recommend Thrive and their therapist. Thrive has supported me to manage some challenging situations on a personal level. In addition, I have referred some of my students, their parents and work colleagues when they were dealing with personal issues, which needed the assistance of a Clinical Psychologist.
School Counsellor
Thrive is a wonderful centre that really helped me out during a difficult phase. You usually hear horror stories about therapists in Dubai so I was pleasantly surprised by my therapist Sonia. She was fantastic , very supportive and patient. Even the overall experience of the centre from the appointment bookings to the physical space was very positive and easy. I 100% recommend Thrive to anyone looking for support.
27-year-old female client who received services from Sonia
I have seen various counselors over the years to treat my anxiety and grief so I am always a bit hesitant to start up with the new counselor. But I feel very fortunate to have found Thrive Wellbeing! From my initial consultation with Dr. Sarah, I could sense the warmth and sincerity she offers and felt at ease immediately. Dr. Sarah is a very thoughtful, resourceful, and empathetic counselor and I received various tools to help me navigate through my reoccurring issue which I had never received before from other counselors (including, but not limited to, books and applications). My sessions were not just me speaking but collectively Dr. Sarah and I processing my feelings and gaining reassurance that I had the resources to move forward. I would highly recommend Dr. Sarah’s counsel along with the other counselors at Thrive because they clearly have a healthy approach to treating clients new and already familiar to therapy.
42-year-old female who received services from Dr. Sarah
Thrive have recently supported our company with a wellbeing initiative for our members of staff. Throughout the whole process Dr. Sarah was extremely helpful, maintained excellent communication, and thought carefully about how to meet the needs of our organisation. The guidance and support provided has been invaluable to our members and we look forward to working together further
Assistant Headeacher at a Dubai school
I was seeing Dr. Sarah at Thrive for 8 months before moving away from Dubai. I was initially reluctant to seek therapy however, Dr. Sarah’s sessions were a breakthrough for me. Dr. Sarah is an extremely professional person whom I was able to trust and could confide in during my sessions. Throughout my time with Dr Sarah, I got to know myself much better in various aspects of my life and she helped me overcome many obstacles throughout this period. Moreover, the centre is at a convenient location and has nice ambience. I would highly recommend Dr. Sarah and team at Thrive.
30 year old male who received services from Dr. Sarah
I cannot recommend Dr Sarah enough. My husband and I were having serious problems. We were both in denial and I was at a complete loss. I felt I had no-one I could trust to confide in - I didn’t know who to turn to for help. Her caring, gentle manner made it very comfortable for me to talk openly about our issues and her advice on moving forward was invaluable.
We met together with Dr Sarah and through her guidance we have now a much happier relationship. We are both extremely grateful to her for all her help.
Married couple who received services from Dr. Sarah
Participating in the pregnancy support group hosted by Thrive was one of the best choices I’ve made in the last few months. I was hesitant at first, and worried that maybe other mothers’ anxieties might exacerbate my own, but I left the chat room feeling so much more empowered, comforted and validated by other women who understand what it is like to be pregnant at this time. Dr. Sarah and Dr. Vassiliki were both so empathetic, warm, and understanding and I could feel that even through a screen (which I wasn’t expecting at all). What I appreciated most is that both Drs guided the conversation in a meaningful way, made it easy to speak comfortably, and only offered words of comfort. I am confident that the other women on the call felt the same and I would do it again in a heartbeat!
38 week pregnant woman who participated in the pregnancy support group
Dr Sarah Rasmi recently provided a Webinar for our-school staff regarding positive Mental Health and Wellbeing during the COVID-19 epidemic. Dr Rasmi provided a wealth of knowledge and practical tips/ strategies to the 50 members of staff that joined. Her Webinar was extremely engaging and enjoyable for all and we are very thankful for her time and expertise. Thank you Dr Rasmi, and well done for all of your fantastic support to the wider community throughout this difficult time!
Wellbeing Coordinator at an international school in Dubai
Dr. Sara Rasmi had a session for Emirates Steel ladies on perfectionism. This is one of the best session so far the way Dr. RASMI is presenting and conveying messages are so powerful and reach our hearts. For sure we will be having her soon.
Rima Al Muharrami
Corporate Happiness & Engagement Manager
I have been seeing Dr. Ioannis at Thrive since November 2020. I have seen so many doctors and I believe that Dr Ioannis is the best doctor I’ve had. He’s very good at explaining my diagnosis and helping me understand the symptoms and how to cope. He also found the right balance of medication for me and is very considerate. The staff at Thrive are very nice, efficient and polite. They are also very accommodating with requests. I have never had a booking issue with them and they are always on time.
Female client who received services from Dr. Ioannis
I have been working with Jessica for around 5 months in order to deal with my anxiety. I have made significant progress in the small space of time. In the couple of months, Jessica and I worked together to recognise and identify GAD and have also worked on learning skills to help me deal with the GAD. With her constant and helpful support, I am learning how to recognise irrational thoughts and cognitive distortions and subsequently, learning to control and reduce my anxiety. Skills I’ve learnt in therapy have already been increasing my quality of life in such a short span of time and I am confident that this progress will not be hindered any time soon.
Female client who received services from Jessica Rosslee (M.A.)
Last year I was in a very dark place, yes this had been going on for a long time through my 35 years of living, but it was really hard for me to cope with all these overwhelming feelings I had been trying to push back for the last 30 years of my life.
I finally decided to reach out to Thrive for help, as I knew I needed help. They pared me up with Jessica who I must say is a life saver to me.
I owe her my sanity and peace of mind. I do still have a long way to go, but I now know the right tools and skills to help me through both my anxiety and depression. The darkness I had grown so used to living in, has left me, maybe not completely, but I can breath now, and I am able to be my real self.. I finally feel excited to do new things, to learn, to explore, and not to just exist but to live.
I am able to deal with the feelings that had made me feel like I was drowning and alone, but most of all, I’m able to tell my loved one’s when I’m not ok, and help them understand what I’m going through and how we can work through this as a family.
Female client who received services from Jessica Rosslee (M.A.)
After facing a sudden turnover of my life and after the realization of abuse in a traumatizing relationship with my narcissistic partner , all I wanted was a light of hope to begin a new journey of realization of my self worth and potential to move forward in a positive direction. And I am grateful that Thrive well being center and Ms.Jessica paved the pathway to rebuild myself in this challenging time of my life . Ms.Jessica has been very patient , understanding and professional in guiding me to overcome the emotional challenges I faced during my divorce proceedings with my narcissistic partner. She has also helped me cope up with the symptoms of PTSD. Today after almost 6 months of overcoming struggles with the most traumatic event of my life , I feel confident in my potential to move forward and succeed in life as a single mom. I'm very much grateful to Ms.Jessica and thrive well being center for their help in this challenging period of my life .
Female client who received services from Jessica Rosslee (M.A.)
I’ve been seeing Pashmi for a few weeks so it’s still early days, but I have made good progress in that short time. Pashmi is gentle, kind and thoughtful. She is very good at creating a comfortable safe space for me to talk openly. I find Pashmi gives me practical advice and will challenge me to reflect on myself. I highly recommend Pashmi.
The staff at Thrive are friendly and organised.
Female client who received services from Pashmi Khare (M.Sc.)
I have been in therapy with Maša since August 2021. Maša helps me feel immensely safe and comfortable in every session, and her insightful perspectives on my situations/thoughts encourages me to view my life differently and do the work that is needed.
The Thrive reception has also accommodated every query with patience, swiftness and cordiality, no matter how trivial. I have never had any trouble with booking, and the fact that I can reach out to them anytime puts my mind at ease.
Therapy at Thrive is like a warm hug for my soul, and I would highly recommend it.
Female client who received services from Masa Karleusa Valkanou (M.Sc.)
I cannot recommend and thank Dr Sarah at Thrive enough for her help. Dr Sarah provides a professional, non judgmental and productive space to speak openly about my anxiety and has helped to equip me with the skills to challenge myself and help alter my behaviour patterns. I have undertaken counseling and CBT before and have found Dr Sarah to be by far the best I have experienced and responded to. Thank you very much!
36-year-old female client who received services from Dr. Sarah
I highly recommend the therapists at Thrive. The whole environment is warm and friendly and the therapists are excellent. If your children are dealing with personal issues this is definitely the place that will help them move through it with ease
Mother who received services for her 12-year-old sonand her 7-year-old daughter
I highly recommend Thrive. Dr Sarah is someone I can trust. She’s been fantastic in helping me work through challenges. As a man it’s always difficult to ask for help, but going to Thrive and seeing Dr Sarah was the best decision.
28-year-old male client who received services from Dr. Sarah
Dr Sarah and her team were brilliant when I saw them a few months ago. Possibly like most clients I was nervous, scared and apprehensive about going along, talking and opening up about issues I was facing.
The environment at Thrive is very calm, friendly and welcoming and I felt instantly comfortable and at ease in my first session with Dr Sarah. There was no judgement and I was made to feel relaxed and safe which allowed me to open up and speak freely. The sessions were run very professionally and were also warm, interesting and positive which was a perfect mix.
I would highly recommend Thrive and Dr Sarah. I feel very fortunate to have found them in Dubai. A big thank you to everyone at Thrive.
43-year-old female client who received services from Dr. Sarah
I had been going through quite a turbulent time when I finally decided to seek help. As a guy I was quite uncomfortable reaching out, however, I believe I reached out to the right people. Dr Sarah's sessions were a breakthrough for me, I had managed in a short period of time to get my life back on track and gain some valuable tools to help me deal with future obstacles. I highly recommend Dr Sarah as she manages to provide a very friendly environment (in fact it feels like you are talking to a very close friend) and she really helps in breaking down the problems into smaller manageable issues for you to tackle.
36-year-old male client who received services from Dr. Sarah
Receiving appropriate general psychological help, let alone help for postpartum issues in an environment where mental health is significantly undervalued had proven to be a challenge until I stumbled upon the Thrive Wellbeing Centre.
Beginning with the reception team, the engaging and empathetic office manager, whose warmth of tone encouraged me to take one more chance to receive help and over the phone no less.
While Dr. Rasmi, equipped with both academic, research-based experience as well as applied psychological/counselling training was the perfect fit or "ally", as per her counselling philosophy, for me. In just a few sessions, I had already begun to feel more optimistic about my situation. I greatly benefitted from and appreciated both the scientific rigour and the practicability of her counsel and felt that she worked hard to try and understand me, my situation and develop tailored strategies as opposed to stock-standard responses.
Despite having to end our sessions abruptly due to moving abroad, the centre and Dr. Rasmi keep touching base with me. That, is a rare thing in Dubai! Also as a new parent, I wish I could have had the opportunity to attend the workshops that Dr. Rasmi and her team provided. The topics seem well-researched and extremely apt for what expat parents, like myself, would find useful, necessary even.
So thank you Thrive for making me and many others I imagine feel a little less alone and a little more supported!
31-year-old female client who received services from Dr. Sarah
I visited with Dr. Sarah due to a disturbing anger incident and issues with stress and anxiety. The sessions were immediately helpful and Dr. Sarah combined intelligent, gentle probing with cathartic conversation to enable her and me to better understand the reasons behind the issues. Through this understanding she was able to recommend various techniques and practices to improve my general demeanour. All in all Sarah's insight, experience and conversational manner were extremely useful in pinpointing areas to work on and ways to relax, stay calm and maintain a better life outlook. I certainly recommend her.
55-year-old male client who received services from Dr. Sarah
The Thrive wellbeing centre is my new favorite place. I've been seeing Dr. Kate for art therapy and she has been absolutely amazing. she's really helped me and I really enjoy her techniques, empathy, and professionalism. The centre itself is so warm and comforting, I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for self improvement and self empowerment.
33-year-old female client who received services from Dr. Kate
I am a counsellor at 1 of the International schools here in Dubai and we have had Thrive come to our school on numerous occasions to give talks on a number of different topics to both our staff and parent communities. These talks have been so informative and impactful and have always drawn a large audience from our community. Dr Rasmi and the team deliver the information needed to the target audience in such a compassionate and insightful way that our school will only use Thrive to deliver talks to our staff and parent communities in the future. I cannot recommend Thrive highly enough and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.
School Counsellor
It was an absolute pleasure to work with Dr Sarah Rasmi and her team at Thrive on the Dove Self Esteem project in schools in Dubai, which was implemented with students aged 8-14 years old. Whether it was a session training teachers, a lesson with students or a parent workshop, the psychologists were extremely professional, knowledgeable, empathetic, friendly and passionate. They delivered the sessions confidently, backed with research and were able to answer any questions asked.
Prior to the programme we didn't have experience of working with therapists. Thrive were recommended to us and I think we were extremely lucky to find them. All therapists are highly qualified and with the right experience. We felt 100% confident in their work. Dr Sarah and the team brought huge value to the project and were a large part of the overall success.
I personally learnt a lot from the experience of working alongside the psychologists and huge credit specifically to Dr Sarah Rasmi and her team. School principals, teachers, students and parents were all extremely happy with the delivery of the Self Esteem project.
We loved working with Thrive Wellbeing and hope to continue the relationship.
Sally Corander, Founder, Managing Director, INTERACT
(INTERACT are the agency working on behalf of Dove in the Middle East for the Dove Self Esteem project - a global programme which has helped over 20 million young people across 139 countries improve their body confidence and self esteem)
I had always believed in the power of therapy, and supported friends and family who have reached out for help. I was going through a difficult time transitioning into married life, processing my parents move from the UAE, and channelling a lot of anxiety. It was at that time that I decided to actively search for a clinic to visit and I came across Thrive Wellbeing Centre.
Choosing a therapist that I felt most comfortable with was the most important element for me. As I was reading through the profiles I automatically felt drawn to Dr. Sarah and I went with my gut. And boy am I happy with that decision. From day one, Dr. Sarah equipped me with techniques and methods on how to process my anxiety and thoughts on my own. Throughout our sessions, I never felt judged or misunderstood. I would go on and on about my issues, and Dr. Sarah would intercept smoothly with a thought that would make me pause and think about my situation analytically.
The clinic's layout and atmosphere is also very warm and calming, and Karen and Janine are very welcoming upon arrival. All in all it's one of the best decisions I've made in my life and I would highly recommend Thrive Wellbeing Centre.
29 year old female who received services from Dr. Sarah
It is often difficult to know where to start with therapy and even harder to follow through with taking the first steps. Thrive makes it easy; everyone is responsive, kind, and understanding. It's a calming and welcoming space. My therapist helped me work through the different stages of therapy- the initial walls we have, the desire to prematurely end therapy when it gets hard, and finally do the work needed.
With healing or if your focus is self-improvement, you need to find someone who is knowledgeable, empathetic and most importantly who will let you be honest about yourself as well as the process. I believe at Thrive Wellbeing you are able to find that space and support.
26-year-old female client who received services
Great group session organised by Thrive Wellbeing Centre for our office! We were able to discuss openly our fears, anxieties, and how to navigate them. It was very easy opening up and there were some amazing toolkits provided!
Employee at Meltwater
I had a great experience with Dr Elif and with Thrive in general. Dr Elif is an excellent therapist with whom it was very easy to develop a trusting relationship. She is very empathetic and made me feel understood from the very start. I highly recommend Dr Elif to anyone who is suffering from anxiety and needs some guidance how to handle it.
The communication was seamless with Thrive, the bookings were quick and they sent me the necessary papers for insurance claims promptly. All in all, I was very happy with their service and shall I need guidance in the future, I will not hesitate to choose them again.
Female client who received services from Dr. Elif
I am extremely thankful to have had Pashmi as my therapist; Having struggled with anxiety and depression, Pashmi patiently listened and challenged me in ways that have changed my life. She provided me with valuable tools that also enable me to work through obstacles independently, while remaining reachable in case I cannot manage. Pashmi is compassionate and attentive, and I believe she will contribute remarkably to anyone’s growth and development as she did for me.
The team at Thrive are also wonderful, understanding and host a reassuring atmosphere. I highly recommend Pashmi and the team at Thrive.
Female client who received services from Pashmi Khare (M.Sc.)
I first contacted Thrive as I had an extremely debilitating panic attack. I knew I needed to seek professional help so I booked a session with Masa at Thrive.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. Masa explained the type of therapy she uses. Therapy with Masa is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I have a very safe professional relationship with her, we have got to route of my issues and I now have my own coping mechanisms which I did not have before therapy.
The centre is also very responsive if I have any queries or need to amend an appointment.
Thank you Masa and Thrive you have literally changed my life. I will be forever grateful.
Female client who received services from Masa Karleusa Valkanou (M.Sc.)
We have been receiving parent guidance sessions for more than a year now from Thrive. We are working with therapist Jessica Rosslee. Every session is insightful, relevant and actionable. We improved our relationships, connection within the family leveraging her guidance. Strongly recommending Thrive and Jessica in case you are also looking for a therapist for your kids and also for yourself as parents.
