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.
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Many people have said to me recently, "You must be celebrating."
Far from it, my friends. We`re recovering.
We`ve now been out of school for one week, and my children will never return to that school. After four difficult years, the impact is still very much with us.
My son`s body still wakes every morning expecting a school day. His heart rate remains elevated, his nervous system still stuck in survival mode. My daughter is in shutdown. And despite constant weekly and daily conversations, both are still processing anxiety, grief, fear and uncertainty.
Leaving a difficult situation doesn`t instantly bring relief, but it does create the space for all the emotions that have been held back to finally surface.
As I write this, I can feel my own grief surfacing too - layers I thought I`d already processed, tears I didn`t expect.
This is the reality for many neurodivergent families when school is not the safe, supportive environment it should be.
Education isn`t just about academic outcomes. It`s about belonging, safety, inclusion and wellbeing. When those foundations are missing, the impact reaches far beyond the classroom.
For every child who is struggling, there is a family carrying that burden alongside them.
We need to do better.
💛
This will be my final post before I take a much-needed break for the summer. If you comment or message and I don`t reply for a while, please know I`m not ignoring you - I`m focusing on helping my family (and myself) heal and recover.
Wishing you all a peaceful summer.
#Neurodiversity #Autism #ADHD #InclusiveEducation #EducationalTrauma #SchoolInclusion #MentalHealth #ChildWellbeing #NeurodivergentFamilies #Parenting #EducationMatters #DisabilityInclusion
Two years ago, I created a Facebook group for the English-speaking neurodivergent community in Sweden. We are now over 200 strong.
Yesterday, I hosted the second June Garden Party for members. While these gatherings are still relatively small, they are incredibly meaningful. It was wonderful to meet new members, reconnect with those who joined us last year, and watch our young people gradually, in their own time, find comfort in the space and begin building connections with one another.
Hearing the laughter of our children as they played together filled me with joy!
For people who often feel different, community isn`t just nice to have - it`s essential. It provides belonging, understanding, safety and support. I`m grateful to be able to contribute, even in a small way, by creating opportunities for connection and offering free support where I can.
Building community takes time and can take a lot of effort when we feel we have nothing left to give, but moments like these remind me why it matters - and how using energy on things like this, gives back a million times over.
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#Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #CommunityBuilding #Inclusion #Belonging #MentalWellbeing #Sweden #SupportNetworks #NeurodivergentCommunity #SocialImpact
This June, let`s help support all our communities to be places where everyone can show up as their authentic selves. 🌈
#PrideMonth #Pride2026 #Pride #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #EqualityForAll
Most people who know me know that I primarily work with neurodivergent clients - especially autistic, ADHD, and gifted adults. I also work with highly successful leaders, professionals, and business owners, including many who identify as neurotypical.
Regardless of background or success, the themes are often very similar: identity, transition, and the feeling that something just isn’t quite aligned. Sometimes people wonder, “How did I get here?”
Counselling isn’t only for people experiencing crisis or major trauma. Often it’s simply for people who know they’re capable of more, or who want life to feel more meaningful, authentic and manageable.
Often, the things holding us back are subtle and deeply ingrained:
• self-limiting beliefs
• childhood conditioning
• perfectionism
• people-pleasing
• living according to expectations rather than authenticity
Sometimes even small shifts in awareness, boundaries or self-understanding can create profound change.
Counselling can help you better understand yourself, strengthen relationships, navigate parenting and family life, build confidence at work, and reconnect with who you are beneath the pressures of everyday life.
I firmly believe there is always hope for change, growth, greater peace, and a more fulfilling life. The path forward may not always look how we imagined, but it can become clearer, lighter and more aligned with who we truly are.
One passage I often reflect on comes from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 47:
🌿 “You have control over your actions alone, never over their results. Do not let the fruits of action be your motive, nor let yourself become attached to inaction.”
To me, this speaks to showing up authentically, doing the work, and letting go of rigid attachment to outcomes.
If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, overwhelmed, or simply ready for change, I’d love to support you. Feel free to reach out for an initial conversation.
#Counselling #Therapy #Autism #ADHD #Giftedness #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #Leadership
One of the lesser-discussed strengths of ADHD is curiosity. Research has shown that the hyperactivity-impulsivity traits associated with ADHD are positively correlated with curiosity - and the higher the hyperactivity and impulsivity traits, the stronger that drive to explore and discover can be.
For me, curiosity has always been one of my favourite traits. I’m deeply interested in people - their stories, what gives them meaning, what makes them happy, and how they experience the world. I get genuine joy from connecting with others, even in the briefest moments of interaction.
That same curiosity also shapes how I connect with my environment. It’s noticing a tiny plant thriving in a sea of concrete, the way a raindrop lands on a leaf, or the small details in everyday life that so often go unseen. These moments ground me, nurture my wellbeing, and deepen my sense of joy and connection to the world around me.
In many roles - including my own - curiosity is not just valuable - it changes how I do everything. It can be transformative. It drives my learning, my empathy and my creativity, and it leads more quickly to meaningful human connection.
Really interesting research from King’s College London on the “curious side” of ADHD: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/the-curious-side-of-adhd-how-hyperactive-impulsive-traits-may-fuel-the-urge-to-explore
Edit to add: curiosity also fuels late night doom scrolling - but everything has its balance in life! 🤪
#ADHD #Neurodiversity #Curiosity #MentalWellbeing #Leadership #HumanConnection #Innovation #Inclusion #Neurodivergent #PersonalGrowth #Wellbeing #EmotionalIntelligence
Yesterday, carving out ten minutes of bliss, towards the end of a very busy day. I’m doing better at taking short quality breaks, and this one allowed me to successfully navigate the evening, when we all have a lot less energy and a lot less capacity.
#adhdbrain #adhdstrategies #pause #adhdlife #adhdtherapist #mindfulness #neurodivergent #ND #NDlife #downtime #metime
My to do list is the only way I function – this way I don`t forget EVERYTHING.
Unfortunately, I can`t make this out at all, and it`s definitely not `sum`. Any guesses???
#adhdbrain #adhdstrategies #adhdcoaching #adhdlife #adhdtherapist #adhdfail #neurodivergent #ND #NDlife
My brilliant 12-year-old! The charging/power port on his fan stopped working, so he opened it up, connected it directly inside to the power supply, and got it running again. I’m deeply impressed with his creativity, curiosity, persistence and problem-solving skills.
Some kids struggle in school not because they lack intelligence or ability, but because many schools don’t teach or test in ways that support everyone. We all learn in different ways, and some thrive best when they can follow their own curiosity and internal motivation, because when things feel arbitrary our brains shut down, and external pressure can feel like too great a demand.
#ProudParent #YoungEngineer #CreativeKids #ProblemSolver #STEMKids #CuriousMinds #LearningDifferently #HandsOnLearning #SmartKids #IndependentThinker #Parenting #KidsWhoBuild #FutureEngineer #Neurodiversity #IntrinsicMotivation #AlternativeLearning #MakerMindset #ProudMoments #Innovation #DIYKids
