Counselling as a profession is not widely recognized or utilized in Bahrain. Most literature on counselling in the country covers premarital counselling that emphasizes genetic consultation for couples wanting to marry (Al Arrayed & Al Hajeri, 2009). This is due to the mandated law that was issued by the government in 2004, in an attempt to reduce genetic diseases such as thalassemia.
Also, clinical mental health counselling and psychiatry appear to be the main domain of mental health professionals in the country, considering that the Psychiatric Hospital of Bahrain is the only public psychiatric hospital with the most comprehensive mental health service system. The departments include but are not limited to: psychiatry, psychology, and social work. The psychology unit offers services such as child and adolescent-focused services, long stay, daycare, and drug addiction. It also provides psychosexual therapy and marital counselling.