MA Counseling Children & Violence, Middle East

A team of professionals in a Middle Eastern setting collaborate on strategies for a Master’s program focused on counseling, addressing children and violence. The session highlights peace initiatives, child protection, and mediation skills.

When our family relocated from San Francisco to Dubai last year due to my husband's permanent career move, I was soon shocked, upset, and heartbroken to see how prevalent corporal punishment is among parents disciplining their children in this culture. In Dubai, a harsh and unemotional form of violence against children is not uncommon, and this issue has become my main focus professionally. I aim to assist parents by educating them about the impact of violence on their children. This is why I have chosen a career in family therapy. My goal is to empower families to strengthen their relationships and create stable, loving homes for their children.

My initial motivation for pursuing a career in family therapy is deeply rooted in my own complex family history. My childhood in Iran was extremely challenging, particularly during the Islamic Revolution. Shortly after, my parents divorced, effectively dissolving our family. At 16, I immigrated alone to the United States. Now, 25 years later, I am still striving to rebuild dreams that I was unable to realize. I want to make a profession out of this dream and support other families who are suffering and at risk.

Now at 41, I have achieved my dream of having a family of my own. I have a wonderful and vibrant community here in Dubai, and I am eager to give back to my society. Most importantly, Dubai faces a shortage of family therapists, and I am thrilled at the opportunity to help address this need. There are virtually no social services to protect children and educate parents about their responsibilities, in a country that allows corporal punishment in both public and private spheres. As a family therapist in Dubai, I aspire to be part of a significant cultural transformation, akin to an Arab Spring between men and women, for the benefit of children.

"Focused on academia, a student analyzes complex issues related to child protection and violence in the Middle East, highlighting key areas such as conflict resolution and humanitarian law."

I am an Iranian woman, born during the youth revolution in America in 1970, in Berkeley, California. Some of that revolutionary spirit may have stayed with me and is now manifesting as I reach full professional maturity. I aim to fight for progressive social change and openness in Dubai, where I currently reside, and contribute to broader social change across the Middle East. Living and working in the UAE could also allow me to influence Iran, my homeland, since Iranian society is isolated from the outside world. The UAE acts as a conduit for Iran, facilitating the flow of goods and information. From this strategic position, I wish to advocate for Iranian liberation, particularly for Iranian women, in solidarity with women in the UAE. We are already collaborating to strengthen our online networks, amplifying women's voices in unison.

My long-term goal is to use my degree to advocate for children and educate families about the harmful effects of corporal punishment. I want to inspire and assist them in adopting more effective communication techniques with their children to foster healthier family dynamics. As an undergraduate business student, I was unclear about my ambitions and disengaged from my studies. My poor grades were more due to a lack of interest than ability, and I believe they do not reflect my potential to excel in your program. I see a pressing need to support the children of this country and am highly motivated and confident. I hope to convince you that admitting me to your program will help mitigate the effects of oppressive social structures that perpetuate violence against children.

After completing my education, I spent many years in advertising, followed by sales and marketing for a pharmaceutical company. By 2000, I was married with children and settled in San Francisco as a stay-at-home mother. Naturally, as my children grew, by 2007, I felt the urge to re-engage professionally. My children's upbringing sparked a deep curiosity and concern for child development and psychology, prompting me to enroll in a Child and Adolescent Psychology class at a community college. By 2010, my husband's career brought us to Dubai, UAE, which has become our permanent home. Thus, I am a unique blend—an Iranian woman from San Francisco living amid Arab elegance and social change. The UAE shows some inclination towards moderation and tolerance for diversity in the Arab world.

Since moving to the UAE, I have been acutely aware of the differing standards and expectations regarding child-rearing, especially concerning corporal punishment. Recent research, highlighting the devastating and lasting impacts of corporal punishment on children's intelligence and emotional health, has deeply moved me. I am eager to collaborate with progressive international NGOs in the UAE and the Middle East, building networks of activists focused on child safety, well-being, and protective laws against physical and psychological harm.

Shortly after relocating to Dubai, I was disappointed to find no universities offering a professional degree in counseling psychology; the closest option is a General Psychology Degree at ____ University, a British institution with a Dubai campus. Initially, I decided against an online Master's degree, concerned it might lack the respect of a traditional university degree, and enrolled in the general psychology program at ____ U in September 2011. However, I now realize their curriculum doesn't align with my interest in therapy theories and methods. I am not enthused about experiments with rats; I want to learn to be an excellent therapist. I am seeking a special exception to enroll in your program despite the late application.

I am pleased to report that I have also enrolled in a short program that I believe will complement starting my program at U__ Online. I have registered for a Certificate with the Institute of Transpersonal Development in Spain, beginning in May. I have a solid track record of community engagement, and your program will provide the foundation for me to contribute creatively to family therapy in my new home, Dubai. After completing your program at U__, my long-term goal is to practice as a Family Therapist in Dubai. Since corporal punishment is a common form of discipline here, my primary aim will be to educate families about its long-term detrimental effects on behavior and mental development. Ideally, I would like to run a practice helping children with their issues and educating parents in communication strategies, envisioning it as a center for progressive social change. I am passionate about children and wish to dedicate my career to safeguarding their well-being.

I also have a deep appreciation for families and their dynamics. As an intellectual and professional researcher, I want to focus on how childhood experiences significantly influence our adult success, struggles, and challenges.

Thank you for considering my application.

MA Counseling Children & Violence