The Child Protection Center at the Ministry of Interior, in partnership with the General Directorate of Competency Development, has launched the Family Counselor program in line with the Year of the Family 2026, in the presence of H.E. Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior. The program is designed to qualify specialists in family care and child protection by equipping them with the knowledge and practical skills needed to provide guidance, support, and intervention for families facing relational challenges. It aims to reinforce social cohesion, strengthen the family’s role in supporting security, and highlight its position as a foundational pillar of a safe and stable society.
In his address at the launch, Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili stressed the Ministry’s commitment to the family as the nucleus of community security, noting that sustainable stability begins with a cohesive and aware family capable of navigating challenges with resilience.
He further stated that investing in professional capabilities in family counseling promotes a culture of dialogue and mutual understanding within households, enhances family cohesion, and contributes directly to broader community stability. Al Khaili stressed that safeguarding the family is a shared national responsibility that requires coordinated action across institutions, guided by societal values and identity, and supportive of ongoing development efforts.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry explained that the program marks a strategic step toward developing a group of specialized local professionals in family counseling, equipped to address family-related issues with competence and professionalism, thereby elevating quality of life and reinforcing social stability.
The program features eight core modules, covering family protection legislation and policies; domestic violence, its concepts, forms, theoretical frameworks, and risk factors; dynamics of family relationships; counseling and guidance methodologies; conflict and dispute resolution within families; cognitive behavioral therapy for victims; case assessment and analysis; data collection and interpretation; and the ethical framework governing family protection practice.
Spanning 25 training days and totaling 150 hours, the program integrates distance learning with in-person sessions, ensuring a balanced blend of theoretical knowledge and applied practice.
The curriculum is organized into six training tracks, including Understanding Violence: Models, Impact and Prevention, Family Legislation and Policies, Family Counseling and Guidance Skills, Emotional Intelligence and Interpersonal Skills, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Counseling, and concludes with field visits and practical engagement sessions.