Therapy for Brits and expats in the UK, and for British expats around the world
I specialise in working with adults and young people with ADHD or autism, mixed culture issues, or difficulties arising from gender, sexual or relationship diversity
I will give you a safe and confidential space to explore your difficulties, at your own pace, in your own time
Support around ADHD & autism, mixed culture life, or gender, sexual and relationship diversity
Online counselling is a way for you to get support without the demands or stress of travel, and can be particularly helpful to those who experience sensory overload or have a demanding personal schedule.
I also offer support sessions to parents and educators, to help you create a calmer and more supportive environment for your neurodivergent children and students, and to reduce demands and overload on you.
I have full training and extensive experience in video, audio, and SMS therapy, as well as email.
About me
Nina Shah Gestalt Counsellor Dip. MBACP (Accred.), Reiki Master Level 3
I am a British therapist living in Stockholm, and I continue to work remotely with clients in the UK, and English-speaking clients around the world.
I specialise in issues relating to feeling different for whatever reason, including mixed culture life, neurodivergence (ADHD, autism etc), and gender, sexual and relationship diversity.
I am a UK-accredited Gestalt therapist with 30 years of experience in the fields of mental health and psychology.
Follow me on Instagram
I just came across the word `hen` in my intensive Swedish course, and it reminded me of something my daughter told me when she was about six.
In her Swedish primary school, she learned that Swedish has three pronoun sets:
✨ hon/henne (she/her)
✨ han/honom (he/him)
✨ hen/henom (they/them - singular, gender-neutral)
That last one - hen - really stuck with me.
Originally, Swedish used de/dem (they/them) as a gender-neutral option, just like in English. But over time, it became clear that this didn’t reflect everyone’s identity - especially for those who don’t identify with any gender at all.
The word `hen` was actually proposed way back in the 1960s by linguist Rolf Dunås, but it wasn’t taken seriously until the 2000s, when it was embraced by feminist, queer, and academic communities.
It was used to:
🌎 Avoid unnecessary gendering
🌎 Acknowledge non-binary and trans identities
🌎 Challenge binary norms in language
Hen sparked national debate in 2012 after appearing in a children’s book, Kivi och Monsterhund. Some criticised it as `political correctness`, while others saw it as a natural and needed evolution in how we use language to include everyone.
In 2015, hen was officially added to the Swedish language.
Today in Sweden, non-binary people can choose the pronouns that best reflect their identity:
☯️ de/dem - plural form (inclusive of all genders)
☯️ hen/henom - singular form (for those who identify with none)
I find this both thoughtful and progressive, a powerful example of how language can evolve to reflect identity. 🌱
💡 What are your thoughts on gender-neutral language, especially in your own culture or language?
I’d love to hear.
#GenderNeutralLanguage #InclusiveLanguage #LanguageEvolution #NonBinaryVisibility #LinguisticDiversity #LGBTQInclusion #CulturalAwareness #SwedishLanguage #ProgressiveEducation #DEI
I just came across the word `hen` in my intensive Swedish course, and it reminded me of something my daughter told me when she was about six.
In her Swedish primary school, she learned that Swedish has three pronoun sets:
✨ hon/henne (she/her)
✨ han/honom (he/him)
✨ hen/henom (they/them - singular, gender-neutral)
That last one - hen - really stuck with me.
Originally, Swedish used de/dem (they/them) as a gender-neutral option, just like in English. But over time, it became clear that this didn’t reflect everyone’s identity - especially for those who don’t identify with any gender at all.
The word `hen` was actually proposed way back in the 1960s by linguist Rolf Dunås, but it wasn’t taken seriously until the 2000s, when it was embraced by feminist, queer, and academic communities.
It was used to:
🌎 Avoid unnecessary gendering
🌎 Acknowledge non-binary and trans identities
🌎 Challenge binary norms in language
Hen sparked national debate in 2012 after appearing in a children’s book, Kivi och Monsterhund. Some criticised it as `political correctness`, while others saw it as a natural and needed evolution in how we use language to include everyone.
In 2015, hen was officially added to the Swedish language.
Today in Sweden, non-binary people can choose the pronouns that best reflect their identity:
☯️ de/dem - plural form (inclusive of all genders)
☯️ hen/henom - singular form (for those who identify with none)
I find this both thoughtful and progressive, a powerful example of how language can evolve to reflect identity. 🌱
💡 What are your thoughts on gender-neutral language, especially in your own culture or language?
I’d love to hear.
#GenderNeutralLanguage #InclusiveLanguage #LanguageEvolution #NonBinaryVisibility #LinguisticDiversity #LGBTQInclusion #CulturalAwareness #SwedishLanguage #ProgressiveEducation #DEI
What do you make of this?
📚 [Image: A row of books titled Ferns. Text reads: “Everyone in the past was neurotypical, which is how we got things like this single-author, eight-volume encyclopaedia of ferns.”]
It’s interesting how certain deep interests, once seen as signs of intellect or endearing eccentricity, now often face more scrutiny or judgment.
A bit of humour here, but also a gentle prompt to reflect on how we view neurodivergence, productivity, and passion in today’s world.
#Neurodiversity #NeurodivergentThinking #DifferentBrainsDifferentStrengths #InclusionMatters #PDA #NeurodivergentVoices #WorkplaceInclusion #neurodivergence
What do you make of this?
📚 [Image: A row of books titled Ferns. Text reads: “Everyone in the past was neurotypical, which is how we got things like this single-author, eight-volume encyclopaedia of ferns.”]
It’s interesting how certain deep interests, once seen as signs of intellect or endearing eccentricity, now often face more scrutiny or judgment.
A bit of humour here, but also a gentle prompt to reflect on how we view neurodivergence, productivity, and passion in today’s world.
#Neurodiversity #NeurodivergentThinking #DifferentBrainsDifferentStrengths #InclusionMatters #PDA #NeurodivergentVoices #WorkplaceInclusion #neurodivergence
Does anyone else find the music in TV shows and movies more overwhelming than the actual visuals? 😵💫🔊
I’ve realised that the added sounds - dramatic music, jumpy suspense beats, sudden loud cues - can often feel like too much for me. Even now, as an adult, I still cover my ears (and eyes) during the most intense scenes.
My kids are the same. When we watch something like Wednesday on Netflix, we sometimes have to mute the sound and just read the subtitles. It’s the only way they can actually enjoy the shows they love, because the additional tension sounds aren`t just scary, they`re overstimulating. We all want to hear the dialogue, just not the extra stuff… but right now there’s no way to separate the two.
And it’s not just horror or thrillers, even the news and kids` shows have become more intense and overproduced. For those of us who experience sensory overload, this kind of constant tension in audio isn’t just annoying, it can be physically stressful and emotionally exhausting. Not quite the experience we`re seeking on a Friday night chilling together!
💡 I’ve so often wished there was a way to turn off the intense background music and suspenseful sound effects, but keep things like dialogue and natural sounds (like doors opening, birds chirping, etc.).
Just like subtitles make content more accessible for some, I really believe adjustable audio could help so many people, especially neurodivergent kids and adults.
✨ Curious - does anyone else feel like this?
✨ Would a low-sensory audio option help you or someone in your family?
Let’s talk about it 👇
#Neurodiversity #SensoryOverload #AutisticVoices #AccessibleMedia #InclusiveDesign #Netflix #Wednesday #MediaMatters #NeurodivergentCommunity #adhd #audhd
Does anyone else find the music in TV shows and movies more overwhelming than the actual visuals? 😵💫🔊
I’ve realised that the added sounds - dramatic music, jumpy suspense beats, sudden loud cues - can often feel like too much for me. Even now, as an adult, I still cover my ears (and eyes) during the most intense scenes.
My kids are the same. When we watch something like Wednesday on Netflix, we sometimes have to mute the sound and just read the subtitles. It’s the only way they can actually enjoy the shows they love, because the additional tension sounds aren`t just scary, they`re overstimulating. We all want to hear the dialogue, just not the extra stuff… but right now there’s no way to separate the two.
And it’s not just horror or thrillers, even the news and kids` shows have become more intense and overproduced. For those of us who experience sensory overload, this kind of constant tension in audio isn’t just annoying, it can be physically stressful and emotionally exhausting. Not quite the experience we`re seeking on a Friday night chilling together!
💡 I’ve so often wished there was a way to turn off the intense background music and suspenseful sound effects, but keep things like dialogue and natural sounds (like doors opening, birds chirping, etc.).
Just like subtitles make content more accessible for some, I really believe adjustable audio could help so many people, especially neurodivergent kids and adults.
✨ Curious - does anyone else feel like this?
✨ Would a low-sensory audio option help you or someone in your family?
Let’s talk about it 👇
#Neurodiversity #SensoryOverload #AutisticVoices #AccessibleMedia #InclusiveDesign #Netflix #Wednesday #MediaMatters #NeurodivergentCommunity #adhd #audhd
Some psychologists have suggested that ADHD is purely a trauma reaction. My instincts - based on reading and personal/lived experience is that the two can be linked, but that trauma doesn`t cause ADHD.
It is virtually impossible to walk this life as an ADHDer or indeed any neurodivergent person - in Western culture at least - and not experience trauma due to:
👀 Others` lack of awareness and understanding
😡 Others` ignorant criticisms
💥 Public spaces that don`t support our nervous systems, but rather trigger dysregulation, and our fight or flight reactions
I am open to debate, of course, so let me know your thoughts?
#adhd #autism #neurodivergent #neurodiverse #neurodivergenttherapist #audhd #westernculture #trauma #addictions #selfmedication #selfregulation
Some psychologists have suggested that ADHD is purely a trauma reaction. My instincts - based on reading and personal/lived experience is that the two can be linked, but that trauma doesn`t cause ADHD.
It is virtually impossible to walk this life as an ADHDer or indeed any neurodivergent person - in Western culture at least - and not experience trauma due to:
👀 Others` lack of awareness and understanding
😡 Others` ignorant criticisms
💥 Public spaces that don`t support our nervous systems, but rather trigger dysregulation, and our fight or flight reactions
I am open to debate, of course, so let me know your thoughts?
#adhd #autism #neurodivergent #neurodiverse #neurodivergenttherapist #audhd #westernculture #trauma #addictions #selfmedication #selfregulation
ChatGPT! What do you think about it? Do you notice which articles and posts are written using it, and how do they impact you?
#ai #chatgpt #adhd #autism #audhd #neurodivergent #patterns #pattern #patternspotting #editing #proofreading
ChatGPT! What do you think about it? Do you notice which articles and posts are written using it, and how do they impact you?
#ai #chatgpt #adhd #autism #audhd #neurodivergent #patterns #pattern #patternspotting #editing #proofreading
More tea wisdom!
#tea #cuppa #englishtherapistinstockholm #englishtherapist
Therapy for ARFID can look all sorts of ways. Picking fruit is just one of the many ways to get used to the feel, touch and smell of foods in a less scary or overwhelming way. Absolutely zero pressure to taste anything! We can also make lots of potions with fruits at this time of year.
#arfid #autisticgirls #adhd #neurodivergent #food #organic #gardening
Therapy for ARFID can look all sorts of ways. Picking fruit is just one of the many ways to get used to the feel, touch and smell of foods in a less scary or overwhelming way. Absolutely zero pressure to taste anything! We can also make lots of potions with fruits at this time of year.
#arfid #autisticgirls #adhd #neurodivergent #food #organic #gardening
