Welcome to www.nikitabarretto.com (the “Website”). The Website is operated by Nikita Barretto, Clinical Psychologist, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (“I”, “me”, “my”). By using this Website, contacting me, or booking an appointment, you agree to these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree, please do not use the Website.
1. About the Website and my services
The Website provides information about the psychological services I offer, including:
- Psychoeducational assessments
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Adolescent counselling
- Marriage counselling and couple’s therapy
- Mental health support for children, adolescents and adults
The information on this Website, including blog articles, is for general educational purposes only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan or substitute for professional advice tailored to your situation.
2. Not for emergencies
I do not provide emergency or crisis services. If you or someone else is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, call 999 (Police), 998 (Ambulance) or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. Please do not use the contact form, email or WhatsApp for urgent situations, as messages may not be read immediately.
3. Enquiries and booking appointments
- Submitting the contact form, emailing or calling me is an enquiry only. A therapeutic relationship begins only once I have confirmed your appointment and the first session has taken place.
- Sessions take place at Dubai Community Health Centre… or online via secure telehealth platforms.
- Working hours are Sunday to Wednesday 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 09:00 to 17:00. I am closed on Thursday and Friday. Hours may change, and I will confirm them when booking.
- I may decline or end a booking if I believe my services are not suitable for your needs. Where possible, I will refer you to a more appropriate professional.
4. Fees and payment
- Session fees will be communicated before your first appointment. Fees are shared upon enquiry and payment is due at the time of the session.
- Payment is due [at the time of the session / in advance].
- Assessment fees may differ from therapy fees and will be confirmed before the assessment begins.
- Fees may be updated from time to time, and any change will be shared with you before it applies.
5. Cancellations and rescheduling
Please give at least 24 hours’ notice… sessions cancelled with less notice may be charged at 50% of the session fee. I will consider exceptional circumstances such as illness or emergencies.
6. Confidentiality and its limits
What you share in sessions is treated as confidential and handled in line with professional ethical standards and applicable UAE laws. There are limited situations where I may be required or permitted to share information, including:
- Where there is a serious risk of harm to you or to someone else
- Where a child or vulnerable person may be at risk of harm or abuse
- Where disclosure is required by law, a court order or a competent authority
- Where you have given written consent (for example, to speak with a school, doctor or another professional)
Where possible, I will discuss any such disclosure with you first.
7. Children, adolescents and consent
For clients under 18, consent from a parent or legal guardian is required before services begin. In counselling with adolescents, I aim to keep a balance between the young person’s privacy and the parents’ need to know about safety and progress. I will explain how information is shared at the start of the work.
For psychoeducational assessments, reports are shared with the parent or guardian who requested the assessment, and may be shared with schools or other professionals only with their consent.
8. Couples and relationship therapy
When I work with couples, both partners are my clients. I do not keep secrets between partners that could undermine the therapy, and I will explain how information is handled in the first session. I cannot provide reports or opinions for use in legal or custody proceedings unless agreed in advance.
9. No guarantee of results
Therapy and assessment are collaborative processes. Outcomes depend on many factors, including your own involvement, and I cannot guarantee any specific result. You may stop therapy at any time, and I encourage you to discuss any concerns about the process with me.
10. Testimonials
Testimonials on the Website are shared voluntarily by former clients, who are kept anonymous. They reflect individual experiences, are not a guarantee of similar results, and are not a substitute for a professional consultation.
11. Privacy and personal data
When you use the contact form or contact me directly, I collect the information you provide, such as your name, phone number, email and the service you are interested in. I use it only to respond to your enquiry, arrange appointments and provide my services. I do not sell your personal data. Please see my Privacy Policy for full details of how your data is collected, stored and protected, and of your rights.
Please avoid sending detailed personal or clinical information through the contact form or email. Sensitive matters are better discussed in session.
12. Use of the Website
You agree to use the Website only for lawful purposes. You must not:
- Attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Website or its systems
- Introduce malicious code, or interfere with the Website’s operation
- Copy, scrape or reproduce Website content for commercial purposes without written permission
- Submit false or misleading information through the contact form
13. Intellectual property
All content on the Website, including text, articles, logos, images and design, belongs to Nikita Barretto or is used with permission, and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may view and share links to the content for personal, non-commercial use, but may not copy, modify or distribute it without my written consent.
14. Third-party links
The Website may link to third-party websites, including social media pages and the Dubai Community Health Centre. I do not control these sites and am not responsible for their content or privacy practices.
15. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by UAE law, I am not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of the Website or reliance on its content, including temporary unavailability, errors or omissions. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.
16. Changes to these Terms
I may update these Terms from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page with the updated date. Continued use of the Website or my services after changes means you accept the revised Terms.
17. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates as applied in the Emirate of Dubai. Any dispute will be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Dubai.
18. Contact
For questions about these Terms, please contact:
Nikita Barretto, Clinical Psychologist
Location: Dubai Community Health Centre, 99 Oud Faisal Al Gurg Building, Oud Mehta, Dubai, UAE
Email: nikitabarretto.psy@gmail.com
Phone: +971 50 825 9747