The Lighthouse Clinic

Get to know The Lighthouse Clinic

From The Lighthouse Clinic's website.

• Our approach

  The Lighthouse Clinic takes a collaborative, warm, and understanding approach grounded in evidence-based psychiatry and psychotherapy. Sessions are guided by Dr Ahmed Zakareia's developmental perspective and training across the lifespan, combined with specialized expertise in neurodiversity, trauma, and eating disorders. The practice integrates multiple therapeutic modalities including psychoanalytic psychotherapy, CBT, DBT, MBT, ACT, and family therapy tailored to each person's needs. Dr Zakareia brings a psychosocial orientation that explores how social systems and unconscious assumptions influence mental health, complemented by interest in precision medicine approaches including pharmacogenomic and nutritional psychiatry.

• Working with families

  Parents complete a patient registration form before the first appointment and are encouraged to email relevant reports such as school assessments or evaluations from other health professionals. At appointments, parents are typically seen together with their child, though whole-family sessions are also offered. The clinic recognises that family members may prefer to be seen separately if that feels more comfortable. Follow-up appointments include regular updates on progress, keeping parents informed throughout the assessment and treatment process.

• Meet the team

  The Lighthouse Clinic is led by Dr Ahmed Zakareia, a psychiatrist with extensive qualifications including an MBChB (2001), FRANZCP (2015), and advanced training certificates in child and adolescent psychiatry (NSW, 2017) and psychotherapy (WA, 2023). He is trained in standardized autism diagnostic instruments including ADOS and 3di, and brings specialized expertise in ADHD, eating disorders, trauma, and personality disorders. Dr Zakareia has held leadership roles in public mental health services and most recently worked as clinical lead for a youth intensive outpatient eating disorder service. He offers a collaborative, evidence-based approach informed by his multicultural experience and training across multiple psychotherapy modalities.

• Your first visit

  At your first appointment, the assessment will typically last 45 to 60 minutes. Parents are seen together with their child, or the whole family may be involved depending on what works best for your situation. The clinic also allows individual family members to be seen separately if they prefer. You'll be guided through how to access Medicare rebates to help with costs, and the team will begin gathering information to understand your child's needs and start the treatment process.