Born in North Wales and educated at Rydal School before studying Medicine at University College London. Completed House Officer posts in Medicine and Surgery at London and Glasgow teaching hospitals. Completed Senior House Officer training in Psychiatry on the Royal Free Hospital training scheme and gained membership of The Royal College of Psychiatrists. Completed Higher Specialist Training in Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at The Tavistock and Portman Clinics alongside a Kleinian full training analysis. Following his individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy training he then trained as a Group Analyst at The Institute of Group Analysis, London (IGA) and completed an MSc in Group Analysis at Birkbeck University for which he was awarded a distinction. Dr Az Hakeem worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist in General Psychiatry & Psychotherapy at Camden & Islington and in Forensic Psychotherapy at The Portman Clinic where he worked for 12 years until 2012. During 2012 he completed a one year sabbatical in Sydney, Australia. He remains a senior lecturer in Psychiatry at the University of New South Wales. In addition to his clinical work, Dr Az Hakeem has worked as a consultant to the media on a number of TV programmes both on and off screen. In 2011, in recognition of his contribution to Psychiatry Dr Az Hakeem was awarded Fellowship to The Royal College of Psychiatrists. In recognition of his contribution to Psychiatry and specialist Psychotherapy, The University of Bradford appointed Dr Az Hakeem as Visiting Professor of Psychiatry & Applied Psychotherapy in 2015. After over 15 years working in the NHS, Dr Hakeem now works exclusively in the private sector. He is a Staff Consultant at The Priory Hospital Roehampton.