Now in its eighth year, the Counselling Arabia 2010 conference is focusing on how individuals can be supported and encouraged in a discouraging environment.
The three-day conference to be held from April 27-29 will include workshops, presentations and training programmes, bringing together key professionals to discuss and develop innovative concepts in counselling practices across the region.
Keynote address
The keynote address on the first day of the programme, by expert Shawn Acor, will identify how employers can affect the success of companies by looking at the emotional satisfaction of employees, while Hanan Nagi will take a more personal look at how we can enhance our own personal success in many areas of our lives.
A common theme running through the 47 sessions and 10 workshops is one of becoming aware of our needs and values to become more satisfied personally and professionally.
For professionals and students
"Counselling Arabia 2010 is designed for professionals and students in a wide variety of human services fields including counselling, career development, human resources, education and special needs," said Daryl Simourd, Career Guidance Counsellor, Dubai Women's College and this year's conference chair.
Simourd said the programme this year builds on the seven-year history of Counselling Arabia in discussing innovations in these ever-evolving fields. Another exciting element of Counselling Arabia 2010 is the discussion of findings of research that has occurred in the UAE, she said.
Student voices
"I believe Counselling Arabia is a great opportunity for me as a student currently enrolled in a Bachelors in Career Advising and Counselling.
"It gives me the chance to meet with presenters and participants from across the UAE, the Gulf and internationally who were really professionals in their fields such as counsellors, academic advisers, social workers and even students," said Aydah Belal Al Ali, a final year BEd student at Sharjah Women's College.
"It really makes me realise how important it is to have such an event to help in developing counselling practices across Arabia which I am really proud of. Not to be forgotten, the great efforts in organising the workshops which had a huge impact on me as a student looking to leave a remarkable mark on the career advising field in UAE."
Her classmate, Fatima Abdullah Rashed of Dubai Customs, said, "Counselling Arabia is great chance to be updated with recent studies related to counselling and to be aware of recent challenges facing the counselling field. It is also an opportunity to network with people who are professionals in my field. It is critical to advance the role of counsellors in UAE, as the need is so great."
Both students had attended last year's conference held in Abu Dhabi Women's College.
The writer is director of Counselling Point with more than 22 years of experience in the fields of education and child welfare. Email counsell@eim.ae or visit www.counsellingpoint.com for more information.
ATTEND COUNSELLING ARABIA 2010
WHEN: April 27-29
WHERE: Dubai Women's College
FOR MORE INFORMATION: E-mail counsellingarabia@hct.ac.ae or visit counsellingarabia.ae
