Vision | Mission

WHO ARE WE

Alsuwaidan Clinic in Kuwait is a leading private mental health care center in the Middle East. We aim to deliver high-quality, evidence-based, compassionate and effective treatments to all our clients. 

​

VISION

To improve the lives of all persons affected by mental disorders. 

​

MISSION

We are a patient-centered, mental health-care team, focused on bettering the lives of individuals with mental disorders through evidence-based clinical care, advocacy and education.

WHO IS DR. ALSUWAIDAN?

Dr. Mohammad Alsuwaidan is an assistant professor of psychiatry at both Kuwait University and the University of Toronto where he is cross-appointed to the divisions of Brain Therapeutics and Philosophy, Humanities and Educational Sciences. He is the Head of the Mental Health Unit at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital - Kuwait's largest academic medical center.

​

Dr. Alsuwaidan completed his psychiatry residency, mood & anxiety disorders fellowship and medical education fellowship at the University of Toronto. He also trained in mood disorders at the Stanford University bipolar clinic and the Tufts Medical Center mood disorders clinic. He completed a Masters of Public Health (MPH) at Johns Hopkins University.

​

Dr. Alsuwaidan has previously served as Founding Head of Mood & Anxiety Disorders, Inaugural Director of Education and Chief of Psychiatry at the Kuwait Center for Mental Health - Kuwait's national mental health hospital. He also held positions as Residency Program Director for the Kuwait Board of Psychiatry and  as Kuwait's representative for Mental Health to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2016, he was elected President of the Kuwait Psychiatric Association. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is certified in public health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.

​

Dr. Alsuwaidan is widely-sought internationally as a speaker and educator in mental health. He has received numerous awards and grants for his work.

WHO IS  HALA MAROUF ?

Hala Marouf

Counseling Psychologist

Hala Marouf trained at the University of Miami in the United States where she received a Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Mental Health Counseling. She has extensive experience working with patients with various mental health issues including addictions, anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, stress and relationship difficulties. Hala worked with a specialized mental health team in Miami, Florida after graduating United States and has been working at Alsuwaidan Clinic since her return to Kuwait. Hala's passion, which started at a young age, to help others overcome their struggles has always been a driving force behind her work.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN DURING MY FIRST VISIT

Many individuals delay going to a psychiatrist, or worry what their first visit will be like. These concerns are often driven by negative societal views about mental illness. Be assured that by booking your first appointment you are already on the right path to recovery. Mental health care in the 21st century has progressed well beyond outdated societal stigma about mental illness. At Alsuwaidan Clinic, our primary objective is for you to receive a comfortable and high-quality experience. During your first visit, you will notice that visiting a psychiatrist is not much different than visiting any other doctor, except the focus is on mental health. The process involves a simple registration, a visit to the nursing station where basic health information will be reviewed, then a visit with Dr. Alsuwaidan who will review your mental health problem and provide you with a diagnosis and a treatment plan for your approval. 

WILL I HAVE TO TAKE MEDICATIONS? I HEARD THEY ARE ADDICTIVE OR DANGEROUS. 

Whether or not Dr. Alsuwaidan will recommend medications for your condition is a decision based on your specific diagnosis and its severity. Psychiatric medications are NOT addictive or dangerous if used correctly as advised by an expert in the field. Dr. Alsuwaidan has advanced training in psychopharmacology (the science of psychiatric medications). He also trains other psychiatrists across the world in the latest developments of psychiatric medications. Rest assured that he will only recommend medications to you if truly necessary. And of course, you always have the final say in what treatment options you want to pursue.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PSYCHIATRIST AND A PSYCHOLOGIST? HOW DO I KNOW WHO TO SEE FIRST?

A  psychiatrist (like Dr. Alsuwaidan) is a medical doctor, who has completed training in medicine and surgery before completing further training in psychiatry.  Most psychiatrists train for around 12-13 years after secondary school (4 years undergraduate, 4 years of medical school and 4-5 years of psychiatry residency). Dr. Alsuwaidan trained for 16 years after secondary school, having completed additional advanced degrees in mood and anxiety disorders, psychopharmacology, medical education and public health. Psychiatrists specialize in mental disorders of the brain. They are the specialists best trained to diagnose mental health problems, ensuring both biological and psychological aspects are considered. Psychiatrists can also provide both medication and/or talk therapy treatments depending on what the client requires. 

​

A psychologist is not a medical doctor, but they are valuable members of a mental health care team. Psychologists specialize in diagnosing non-medical mental health problems, providing psychological testing and/or talk therapy. In general, psychologists who work with patients should have a Masters or PhD degree in clinical or counseling psychology before being qualified to work with patients. Psychologists do not prescribe medications or order laboratory tests as this is not part of their training. 

​

At Alsuwaidan Clinic, we recommend that a psychiatrist should generally be the first person to see you for a mental health problem in order to rule out a medical diagnosis and to assess whether or not you need medication. If you need to see a psychologist, Dr. Alsuwaidan will refer you to someone we know to be qualifed and reputable.