Dr. Afiya Ali

Dr. Afiya Ali is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience in mental health and development across the lifespan. She holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Otago, New Zealand, along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Psychology, a Master’s in Social Sciences (Psychology), and a Bachelor of Social Science with Honours in Psychology from the University of Waikato. She is licensed and registered with the Dubai Health Authority, the New Zealand Psychologists Board, and the Maldives Allied Health Council.

Her career spans New Zealand and the Maldives, where she has provided evidence-based mental health services to diverse populations. In New Zealand, she worked as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in a hospital setting, conducting developmental and psycho-educational assessments, delivering therapy, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on complex developmental needs. In the Maldives, she served as Lead Psychologist at the National Centre for Mental Health, where her work included individual and group interventions, comprehensive assessments, and supervision for psychologists and counsellors.

Dr. Afiya currently works both in-person and online with children, adolescents, adults, and families experiencing a wide range of psychological difficulties, including ADHD, Autism, intellectual disability, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, panic attacks, phobias, OCD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. She has particular expertise in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, parent training, and comprehensive developmental and psycho-educational assessments for children, young people, and adults.

Her approach is integrative, combining evidence-based therapies with sensitivity to individual needs and cultural context. Rooted in care and understanding, she listens closely to each client’s story, tailoring support to what works best for them while ensuring interventions are practical, collaborative, and designed to promote lasting change. She works fluently in English.