About trauma
After a traumatic experience it is common to have intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance or to avoid reminders. When these persist, trauma-focused therapies such as EMDR or trauma-focused CBT can help. Look for a professional with specific training in trauma.
Therapist is the everyday word for a professional who offers talking therapy: depending on the country it can be a psychologist, a psychotherapist, a licensed counsellor, a marriage and family therapist or a clinical social worker. Profiles show each therapist’s actual title, training and registration.
Getting mental health care in Yemen
Public health system · Ministry of Public Health and Population
Public specialist care is limited to four government mental hospitals (Sana'a City, Taiz, Al-Hodeidah and Aden) and outpatient mental health clinics in some public hospitals, which may be suspended because of staff and budget shortages. Ministry figures put the number of psychiatrists at about 59 in 2020 for around 30 million people. A National Mental Health Strategy 2022-2026 was finalised with WHO support. More information
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Yemeni Supreme Medical Council. The Supreme Medical Council, created in 2000, is the official body that grants medical practice licences after a licensing exam. Because of the conflict it currently operates from both Sana'a and Aden; ask the doctor for their council licence.
Urgent help in Yemen
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: emro.who.int, emro.who.int, newarab.com, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Signs to look out for
After a frightening or overwhelming event, it is normal to feel shaken for a while. It is worth seeking help when, weeks later, you still have intrusive memories or nightmares, feel constantly on guard, startle easily, avoid anything that reminds you of what happened, feel numb or disconnected, or notice that it is affecting your sleep, relationships or work. Trauma can also stem from repeated experiences in childhood.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Trauma-focused therapies have strong evidence, especially trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy (TF-CBT), cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure and EMDR. Psychologists, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists with specific trauma training are the main professionals. For complex trauma, therapy often starts by building safety and emotional regulation. A psychiatrist can assess whether medication may help with symptoms such as sleep problems or severe anxiety.
When to seek urgent help
If you are in danger now, or the person who harmed you is still a threat, contact your local emergency services. Seek urgent help too if you have thoughts of ending your life or harming yourself, or if you feel completely disconnected from reality. After a physical or sexual assault, medical care is important even if there are no visible injuries.
What you can do in the meantime
Be patient with yourself: your reactions are a response to something abnormal. Try to keep simple routines, sleep and meals, and spend time with people who make you feel safe. Grounding techniques, such as noticing what you can see and hear around you, can help when memories intrude. Avoid using alcohol or drugs to numb feelings, and choose when and with whom you share your story.
What does a therapist do?
A therapist helps you talk through what is worrying you and find practical ways to feel and cope better. In sessions they listen, ask questions, help you notice patterns in your thoughts, emotions and relationships, and agree goals with you. Depending on their training they may use cognitive-behavioural, humanistic, systemic, psychodynamic or other evidence-based approaches, with individuals, couples, families or groups.
When to see a therapist
It makes sense to look for a therapist when stress, anxiety, low mood, grief, relationship problems, a difficult change or the effects of past experiences start to weigh on your daily life, or when you simply want space to understand yourself better. If symptoms are severe, you may need medication or there are signs of a medical cause, involve your doctor or a psychiatrist as well.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Yemen cover psychological care?
Public specialist care is limited to four government mental hospitals (Sana'a City, Taiz, Al-Hodeidah and Aden) and outpatient mental health clinics in some public hospitals, which may be suspended because of staff and budget shortages. Ministry figures put the number of psychiatrists at about 59 in 2020 for around 30 million people. A National Mental Health Strategy 2022-2026 was finalised with WHO support.
How do I check that a therapist is licensed in Yemen?
Yemeni Supreme Medical Council: The Supreme Medical Council, created in 2000, is the official body that grants medical practice licences after a licensing exam. Because of the conflict it currently operates from both Sana'a and Aden; ask the doctor for their council licence.