Juan Korkie

Clinical Psychologist | Couple Therapist | Author of Why Nothing Changes & The Structure of Change

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

About

I am a Clinical Psychologist with over two decades of international experience, licensed in the UAE, UK, and South Africa. I work with individuals, couples, and families—both online and in-person—helping people understand and change the patterns that shape their lives and relationships. My individual work is grounded in Schema Therapy, while my couple work is based on a structured, experiential, and systemic approach that integrates constructivist and polyvagal principles to create an emotionally grounded process of change. Over the years, I’ve led and developed services across four countries—ranging from residential treatment and crisis intervention to clinical governance for multidisciplinary teams. I’ve designed programmes for at-risk adolescents, managed a dual-diagnosis service in the United States, and led a clinical governance team of more than forty licensed clinicians in the UAE, with responsibilities in supervision, ethics, and risk management. My way of working is clear, honest, and depth-oriented. I don’t believe in scripted responses or quick fixes. Therapy, for me, is a space where empathy and confrontation coexist—where patterns are illuminated, blind spots are challenged, and people begin to see themselves and their relationships with greater precision. Real change begins with that kind of clarity, even when it’s uncomfortable. Being an individual, finding identity, and learning how to live and love well are among life’s hardest tasks. My own neurodivergence has shaped how I understand intensity and difference; it reminds me that regulation, connection, and identity are lived, daily practices. I work firmly but with care, creating a space that is safe enough to be honest—and honest enough to help people change.

Experience

  • Founder at SXCT.org
    Jun 2026 - Present · 1 mo

  • Clinical Psychologist at Thrive Wellbeing Centre by Dr. Sarah Rasmi
    Nov 2025 - Jun 2026 · 8 mos

  • The LightHouse Arabia (8 yrs 2 mos)
    • Director of Clinical Governance and Compliance
      Oct 2021 - Oct 2025 · 4 yrs 1 mo

    • Clinical Psychologist
      Sep 2017 - Oct 2025 · 8 yrs 2 mos

    • Process Innovation Lead
      Mar 2020 - Aug 2021 · 1 yr 6 mos

  • Photographer at Juan Korkie
    Jan 2003 - Jan 2024 · 21 yrs 1 mo

  • Clinical Director at James House
    Apr 2014 - Apr 2017 · 3 yrs 1 mo