Therapy for British residents, and British expats around the world
I work one-to-one with teens and adults, specialising in ADHD and autism, mixed culture life; 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 & 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, both as a therapist and supervisor.
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 am finding myself increasingly struggling with articles on LinkedIn and other platforms โ specifically and only those that are very clearly written using ChatGPT. There is a cadence, and a pattern of language and grammatical use that is very distinct, and it clangs in my mind like a discordant bell. It is uncomfortable to me โ I feel it deeply within my body, and I am finding myself skipping articles in order to avoid this discomfort.
I am not against AI at all. I am strongly of the opinion that it has powerful benefits, like summarising dense texts, researching and expanding on ideas, giving us ideas, but I donโt like the taking of the content as it is, and copying and pasting. Iโve even seen texts starting or ending with โwould you like me toโฆ?โ where the โauthorโ hasnโt even cut out the intro or ending parts of the AI article.
Iโve given some thought to what my triggers are, and it is that I feel Iโm being sold to, conned somehow, that the world is filled with PCs bashing out content, and Iโm sitting here wondering who the people behind the content are โ what do they really feel or think? There is something too polished about the articles, and I find myself wondering what the postersโ vulnerabilities and weaknesses are, what their fears are. The articles regularly discuss weakness and vulnerability, but they are sold as strengths, as weโve all done in interviews. To me this isnโt how I wish to learn about others, or communicate with others. I want the real deal.
Iโm curious if others have this same deeply visceral reaction? Is it stronger among neurodivergent folk, or those of mixed culture, for whom language has been a source of miscommunication in the past? Or it is something else that causes my triggers? Iโd love to hear othersโ thoughts and reactions!
#AuthenticLeadership #HumanConnection #DigitalCulture #AIethics #FutureOfWork #ContentCreation #Authenticity #Neurodiversity #LeadershipDevelopment #PersonalReflection
โก See images for comparison โ this is how AI wouldโve written this article.
โจ **New Article Published** โจ
Iโm excited to share my latest piece exploring the intersections of difference and the complexity of identity - especially when we live with multiple, layered forms of difference.
In this article, I reflect on how identity is rarely one-dimensional. Our experiences are shaped by overlapping aspects of who we are - culture, race, gender, neurodiversity, class, sexuality, disability, and more - and how these intersections can influence belonging, marginalisation, and self-understanding.
If youโre interested in identity, intersectionality, and the nuanced realities of lived experience, Iโd love for you to have a read:
๐ [https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/articles/understanding-multi-layered-identity-and-difference](https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/articles/understanding-multi-layered-identity-and-difference)
Iโd also really welcome your reflections and thoughts.
#Intersectionality #Identity #Difference #DiversityAndInclusion #Belonging #MentalHealthMatters #Counselling #Psychotherapy #TherapistLife #CulturalIdentity #Neurodiversity #LGBTQIA #DisabilityAwareness #SocialJustice #InclusionMatters #ComplexIdentity #CounsellingDirectory #ThoughtLeadership
Forgot to turn the sodding heater on in my cabin! Brrr!
Thankfully only a half hour session, have slippers and hot tea, and a blanket, and warming up quickly...but...that was a shock!!
#mistakes #therapistissues #cold #subzero #adhd #adhdmemory #adhdstrategies #adhdreminders #adhdfail
Living with more than one form of difference* is often something we feel long before we have words for it.
People with mixed cultural backgrounds, neurodivergent traits, giftedness, or differences in gender, sexuality, or relational style often experience a sense of being โout of syncโ with the world โ without quite knowing why. We might wonder: is it culture, family expectations, social rules, or the way my brain works? And often, itโs all at once.
Just as AuDHD isnโt simply autism + ADHD, intersecting differences donโt just add together, they interact. This creates a layered inner experience that can be hard to make sense of, particularly in systems that prefer clear categories and simple explanations, like schools or social settings and clubs.
Day-to-day, this can results in constant adjusting to fit, or translating our realities between culture, communication style, and internal world. Much of this effort is invisible, yet it takes a real toll. Over time, masking or suppressing needs can lead to exhaustion/burnout, self-doubt, shame, or a fractured sense of identity.
In therapy, the work often begins by slowing down and allowing complexity to exist. Counselling can offer space to explore different parts of identity side-by-side, without forcing one aspect to explain everything. This can support a shift from โsomething is wrong with meโ to โthere are many reasons I experience life this way.โ
With both lived and professional experience, I offer a therapeutic space where masking isnโt required, and identity can be explored as dynamic and embodied, supporting self-trust, self-compassion, and a sense of belonging.
I offer therapy and professional supervision. If youโre curious about working together, feel free to message me for a free initial chat.
#Neurodiversity #Intersectionality #MixedIdentity #GestaltTherapy #Counselling #Neurodivergent #ADHD #Autism #Giftedness #IdentityWork #TherapySpace #Belonging
*Difference as defined by the culture we live in
So many ADHDers grew up being told our brains were broken or dysfunctional, but this article flips that tired narrative on its head.
The truth? ADHD brains excel in so many areas - hyperfocus, humour, creativity, intuition - and when we find work (and lives) that actually use these strengths, stress drops, and satisfaction and happiness go way up. Funny that! ๐
The real struggle isnโt our brains - itโs trying to force a square (ADHD) peg into a round (non-ADHD) hole. And honestly, that would hurt any peg.
If youโve ever felt too much or not enough, this is a good read:
https://thediagnosis.substack.com/p/a-generation-got-told-their-brains
#ADHD #ADHDBrain #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #ADHDAwareness #DifferentNotBroken #ADHDStrengths #ADHDCreativity #Hyperfocus #ActuallyAutistic #WorkWithYourBrain #MentalHealth #Unmasking #LateDiagnosis #ADHDLife #Neuroaffirming
It is with some anxiety and trepidation that I share this video. I have waited over a week and I was waiting until I got the paperwork, but I realise that waiting takes more energy from me than doing, even premature, not quite ready, doing. Some detail in here may not be wholly accurate as I was quite overwhelmed when making the video, but the gist is absolutely correct.
The subject - I finally got my ADHD diagnosis. The process was thorough and exhausting, but I couldn`t have asked for more competent or kinder assessors.
#adhd #neurodivergent #adhdassessment #2e #twiceexceptional
Anyone seen the `updated` version of Barbie. We love this one in our home โ far more matching to our own reality.
#autistic #audhd #stuffies #plushies #autisticbarbie #barbie #asd #neurodivergent
What do we think about Autistic Barbie? ๐ญ
Mattel has introduced Autistic Barbie as part of the Barbie Fashionistas range, developed in collaboration with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) โ an organisation led by and for autistic people. That collaboration matters.
Reactions have been mixed. Some are concerned about stereotyping, while others are genuinely happy to see autism represented in such a mainstream, global brand.
No single doll could ever represent the full autism spectrum - and thatโs okay. Personally, I see this as a positive step forward. Visibility starts conversations, and conversations build understanding.
Some of the thoughtful design features include (list below taken from ASAN/Barbie FB post):
๐ Articulated elbows and wrists to support stimming
๐๏ธ A shifted gaze, reflecting reduced eye contact for some
โจ A fidget spinner for sensory regulation
๐ง Noise-cancelling headphones to reduce overload
๐๏ธ An AAC communication tablet
๐ Sensory-sensitive clothing for comfort
It wonโt resonate with everyone - autism is not one-size-fits-all - but for many, seeing these needs acknowledged is meaningful.
Whatโs your take? ๐ฌ
#AutisticBarbie #Neurodiversity #AutismRepresentation #ActuallyAutistic #InclusionMatters #RepresentationMatters #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #DifferentNotLess
