Training & Education:
I am an educator at heart. Over the years, I have taught at Universities in Saudi Arabia, Royal Holloway University of London in the UK, Tufts and Harvard University in the US. I have spoken at many international events, from presenting at scientific conferences to being a keynote speaker at wellbeing summits. I enjoy running workshops/seminars; and welcome opportunities at educational institutions, governmental and non-governmental, as well as corporate organisations on the following themes:

Child & Mother Mental Health (they are intertwined!):
Parenting and work, child-care, negotiating gender-roles, navigating choice points in career trajectory.

Burnout in the workplace:
I see this all the time! exhaustion, fatigue, loss of interest, disengagement… Recognizing Burnout is Key! We explore the multiple presentations of burnout, the different causes, what the symptoms are trying to tell us, and how we can not only manage them but use them as guides to a more fulfilling path for individual and sustainable productivity for the organization. Using my training in the field of Positive Psychology, PERMA+ Model by Martin Seligman (Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishments) and the SPIRE framework of Whole-Being (Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational, and Emotional). I also utilize my training in Appreciative Inquiry, which is a strength-based model for positive social/organizational change.

Positive Psychology & The Science of Flourishing:
Between 2014-16, I trained with Tal Ben- Shahar, a world leader in Positive Psychology, perhaps best known for teaching the most popular course in the history of Harvard! This training was followed by years of coaching. Not to confuse my approach with “Happyology!” the false belief that we ought to be happy all the time. I appreciate the complexity of the full human experience focusing on cultivating positive feelings through meaning and purpose based on the scientific study of flourishing.

Third Culture Families:
Because I have been a global nomad for more than two decades, studying, working, and raising children in many places, my interest in this field has been deeply personal. There are unique challenges that are faced by families living in a culture that is neither their own nor one they are expected/plan to fully integrate into (either because it is temporary, or because of conflicting values etc..), equally, there are many unique advantages; decades of research pointing to this direction. I hope to offer a range of pragmatic advice as well as existential perspective that speaks to this growing phenomenon which may be relevant to international schools, expatriate communities, and multinational corporations.

Examples of Programs I offer:

• Holding Space: As a mother myself, I have experienced first hand the challenges faced by young mothers in the workplace and I can tell you it is not easy! The « solutions » offered are usually practical arrangements, which can help, but rarely address the deep emotional experience of motherhood. I often felt that the terminology used, such as « juggling roles » or « dropping the ball » were not very useful. In this program I offer a « Holding Space » for mothers, where we can safely explore different themes:
  -> Juggling roles vs. Weaving Identities 
  -> Doing vs. Being   
  -> Finding Time vs. Cultivating Presence
  -> The Perfect Mother vs. The Good Enough Mother
  -> Finding Help vs. Accepting Help.
  We also address topics such as:
  -> Redefining & Renegotiating Gender Roles
  -> Self Compassion. 

  While the format is designed for groups of no more than 10, it can be delivered to smaller groups and/or an individual client. It is designed as a blended learning model (and in-person workshop/retreat followed by weekly virtual meetings, and concluding with an in-person workshop/retreat). This all can be adapted to the client’s needs after the consultation session.

• Conversations Worth Having: I am a believer in the value of a good conversation in gaining understanding and instigating positive change. Yet the art of conversation is disappearing and I am hoping to bring it back through this series of « conversations » where we explore relationships that shape our daily lives, such as our relationships with (Time, Place/Space, Technology, Money, Food, Work). This can be customized to be developmentally appropriate for different age groups.

Schools play a crucial role in shaping children’s social and emotional life. Increasingly, schools have become more aware that their role in building character is as important as their role in imparting knowledge. Training can be tailored to staff and/or students. Topics include but are not limited to:

• Social-emotional literacy for different age groups.
• Mindfulness.
• Resilience.
• Executive function skills.
• Positive schools: using a strength-based approach in school systems.

Example of School Programs:

Character Strengths in Schools: It is rather sad that the role of schools has been gradually shrinking and teachers are squeezed to achieve academic goals. There is growing evidence that this has led to a generation that is struggling to cope with real life demands, and lacks self-understanding necessary to navigate the world around them to find meaning and purpose. This course starts with individual assessment of character strengths, followed by eight sessions looking into ways where the individual can:

• See their strengths/gifts.
• Value their strengths.
• Apply their strengths in real life contexts.
• Use what they have learned to inform their future decisions.

I have been involved in the field of Global Mental Health since 2015, it started with earning a fellowship at the prestigious Harvard Medical School and collaborating with pioneers in the field. In this journey, I have gained a wealth of knowledge on impactful, scalable, and sustainable initiatives concerned with building capacity in child mental health care. I demonstrated this in creating a unique 18-month training program in Child Mental Health where I am leading a team of 15 world renowned faculty members at the Harvard Medical School. There have been, so far, almost 50 beneficiaries of the program, forming a community dedicated to the advancement of Child Mental Health in Saudi Arabia and the region.

I welcome opportunities to consult on initiatives in the field of Child Mental Health and Family Wellbeing.