Therapy for Relationship Patterns and Attachment in Dubai
For individuals and couples who keep ending up in the same place, in English or French, in person in Dubai or online.
“Different person, same story. How do I keep ending up here?”
Maybe you've noticed you're drawn to the same kind of partner, again and again. Maybe you and your partner have the same argument so often you could write the script. Or maybe you find it hard to be fully yourself with the people closest to you. These patterns can feel frustrating and a little mysterious. They usually make a lot of sense once we understand where they come from.
What relationship patterns look like in my office
What I see is people who are thoughtful, caring and self-aware. They can often tell me exactly what goes wrong in their relationships. And still, when the moment comes, they react the way they always have.
What I see is someone who keeps choosing partners who aren't really available, or who loses themselves trying to keep the peace. Someone who shuts down, or goes on the attack, as soon as a conversation gets tense. And couples who arrive tired of the same fight, the same silence afterwards, and the feeling that nothing ever really gets resolved.
Is this you?
You end up in similar relationships, or with similar types of partners
The same conflict keeps coming back, no matter what it's about on the surface
Conversations quickly turn into criticism and defensiveness
You avoid difficult conversations, then feel resentment build
After a fight, it's hard to reconnect or repair
You hide parts of yourself to keep the relationship safe
You feel either “too much” or “not enough” in your closest relationships
Where these patterns come from
Our first relationships teach our nervous system what closeness feels like, and what we need to do to stay connected. If love felt safe and steady, we learn that we can rely on others. If it felt unpredictable, conditional or distant, we learn to adapt: by holding on tighter, by keeping our distance, by keeping the peace, or by needing to stay in control.
These adaptations made sense at the time. They protected us. The difficulty is that they tend to follow us into adult relationships, where they get activated in the moments that matter most. Hurts from past relationships, including betrayal or a loss of trust, can add another layer.
Why understanding it isn't enough
Many people know their attachment style. They've read the books. They still find themselves reacting in ways they don't like. That's because these patterns aren't only thoughts. They live in the body. When we feel rejected, criticized or abandoned, our nervous system reacts in a fraction of a second, long before we have time to choose our words.
So the work isn't only about learning better communication techniques. It's about noticing what happens inside you in those moments, understanding what that part of you is trying to protect, and giving your system a new experience of connection.
How I work with relationship patterns
Individually, we look at the patterns you keep finding yourself in, where they started, and what they are trying to do for you.
Attachment. We look at how your early relationships shaped what you expect from others and how you protect yourself.
The parts of you that protect. With Internal Family Systems (IFS), we get to know the parts of you that cling, withdraw, please or control, and help them trust that they don't have to work so hard.
EMDR, when the roots go deeper.EMDR can help process earlier experiences and beliefs that keep the pattern going, like “I'm too much” or “people always leave.”
Your body in the moment. Somatic work helps you recognize what happens in your body when you feel triggered, so you can stay present instead of reacting automatically.
With couples, we slow the cycle down so you can both see it, instead of seeing each other as the problem. We work on:
recognizing the cycle you get caught in, and what each of you is really feeling underneath
communicating without falling into attack and defense
having the difficult conversations you've been avoiding
repairing after conflict, and rebuilding trust when it has been broken
long-standing differences that have slowly turned into distance
The goal is to show up in your relationships as yourself, with more choice in how you respond, and to build connections that feel safer and more honest.
Sessions
Sessions are individual or for couples, in person in Dubai or online, for people in Dubai and around the world, in English or French. Individual sessions usually last 50 minutes, and couples sessions can be longer when needed. We usually meet weekly at first. Insurance is accepted; please check your coverage with your insurer before booking.
Questions people often ask
Should I come on my own or with my partner?
Both can help. If the patterns show up across different relationships, individual work is a good place to start. If you are both stuck in the same cycle and both willing to work on it, couples therapy can make a real difference. We can talk about what fits during your free call.
My partner doesn't want to come. Can I still do this?
Yes. When one person changes how they show up, the whole dynamic often shifts.
Is this only for romantic relationships?
No. The same patterns often appear with family, friends and colleagues. We can look at whichever relationships matter most to you.
Can couples therapy be done online?
Yes. Couples sessions work well online, including when both partners join from the same home.
Do you offer therapy in French?
Yes, all my individual and couples sessions are available in English and in French.
Taking the first step
Noticing a pattern is already a big step. A free 20-minute call, on your own or together, in English or in French, is the simplest way to see whether we're a good fit. You can reach me by WhatsApp or by email, whichever feels easier.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for therapy. If you are in crisis or thinking of harming yourself, please contact your local emergency services right away (in the UAE, call 999) or go to the nearest emergency department.