Remote therapy, parenting support, school liaison, from the convenience of your home or office
I specialise in working with people of mixed culture, suspected or diagnosed neurodivergence, or any other areas relating to identity or belonging including GSRD
I will give you a safe and confidential space, free of judgement, to explore whatever is difficult in your life, and to help you identify what you might want to change
Therapy & coaching sessions available to help support you, or your neurodivergent child or student
Remote or online counselling is a way for you to engage in counselling 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 coaching or consultancy sessions to parents and educators, to help you support your neurodivergent children and students.
I have full training and extensive experience in video, audio, and SMS therapy, as well as through email for those who may prefer no interruptions, a much slower pace, or who struggle with regular time commitments.
About me
Nina Shah Gestalt Counsellor Dip. MBACP (Accred.), Reiki Master Level 3
I am a British therapist who recently relocated to Stockholm, and I continue to work remotely with clients in the UK.
My cultural backdrop is British Croatian by birth, and British Pakistani by marriage. I specialise in issues relating to feeling different for whatever reason, including mixed culture life, neurodivergence (ADHD, autism etc), the twin relationship, 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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What score do you get?
I always thought I was a picky eater (lots of criticism as a child), but I realise I`ll eat most things, so long as they are prepared nicely e.g. not overboiled veggies.
I got four. Though there are another 3-4 that have to be eaten a specific way e.g. cucumber with tuna or salmon mayo. Or celery only cooked. Or peas only in something like egg fried rice, not as a vegetable in its own right. And onions and garlic not raw (because that really hurts my mouth and makes me feel sick). As a child I was at least 29.
Side note – kid with ARFID got a score of 58 – sharing so you can see the severity of avoidance for kids with ARFID. It isn’t just being picky, it goes way beyond this. For our child it is her body`s reaction to sensory overload, to having extremely sensitive senses. Quite a logical and understandable reaction when you realise how different her physical perceptions are.
#pickyeater #fussyeater #arfid Chart by @myarfidlife
What score do you get?
I always thought I was a picky eater (lots of criticism as a child), but I realise I`ll eat most things, so long as they are prepared nicely e.g. not overboiled veggies.
I got four. Though there are another 3-4 that have to be eaten a specific way e.g. cucumber with tuna or salmon mayo. Or celery only cooked. Or peas only in something like egg fried rice, not as a vegetable in its own right. And onions and garlic not raw (because that really hurts my mouth and makes me feel sick). As a child I was at least 29.
Side note – kid with ARFID got a score of 58 – sharing so you can see the severity of avoidance for kids with ARFID. It isn’t just being picky, it goes way beyond this. For our child it is her body`s reaction to sensory overload, to having extremely sensitive senses. Quite a logical and understandable reaction when you realise how different her physical perceptions are.
#pickyeater #fussyeater #arfid Chart by @myarfidlife
I view anger as part of our body’s language – the way in which our body tells us that something is wrong and needs changing.
In our culture we often suppress our anger, denying ourself the experience – and the opportunity to change things for the better. We may feel it’s wrong to get angry; we may be afraid of a counter attack if we share our anger; or we may be afraid of our anger, we might worry it will harm or wound someone else, especially if we never observed older family members expressing anger appropriately.
When we learn to notice our ‘early’ anger signals, we can express it early, and this prevents explosions or shouting or aggression. Anger does not have to go hand in hand with aggression or violence.
• It can be expressed through words “I feel angry.”
• Its source can be shared “You did not do something you promised you would do.”
• What impact the source had “Not keeping that promise added to my workload/made me feel uncared for or unloved/made me feel alone.”
This slide suggests that our anger tells us when to walk away, and it absolutely can do, but it can also tell us when to try and fix something. I guess it comes down to that old prayer “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
#anger #wisdom #change #walkaway #serenityprayer
I view anger as part of our body’s language – the way in which our body tells us that something is wrong and needs changing.
In our culture we often suppress our anger, denying ourself the experience – and the opportunity to change things for the better. We may feel it’s wrong to get angry; we may be afraid of a counter attack if we share our anger; or we may be afraid of our anger, we might worry it will harm or wound someone else, especially if we never observed older family members expressing anger appropriately.
When we learn to notice our ‘early’ anger signals, we can express it early, and this prevents explosions or shouting or aggression. Anger does not have to go hand in hand with aggression or violence.
• It can be expressed through words “I feel angry.”
• Its source can be shared “You did not do something you promised you would do.”
• What impact the source had “Not keeping that promise added to my workload/made me feel uncared for or unloved/made me feel alone.”
This slide suggests that our anger tells us when to walk away, and it absolutely can do, but it can also tell us when to try and fix something. I guess it comes down to that old prayer “grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
#anger #wisdom #change #walkaway #serenityprayer
Another fun food play therapy (for ARFID). This time playing with herbs and spices mostly, but also marinating tofu, and using her product as a ‘mask’ for my hand! We even tried a lick of the outcome, and it surprisingly wasn`t disgusting - not nice, but not vomit inducing!
#arfid #foodplay #foodtherapy #playtherapy #spices #herbs
Another fun food play therapy (for ARFID). This time playing with herbs and spices mostly, but also marinating tofu, and using her product as a ‘mask’ for my hand! We even tried a lick of the outcome, and it surprisingly wasn`t disgusting - not nice, but not vomit inducing!
#arfid #foodplay #foodtherapy #playtherapy #spices #herbs
Smallest child was super fractious and angry this morning, and I thought it boded ill in terms of going into school. It was a stressful morning, lots of demand avoidance.
When I thought it was too late to get ready in time, I said "Right, it`s time to go," and the reply was "Ok, I want to go in alone today" and just like that, my home was empty.
Ready to walk and nowhere to go, I`m now sitting in the forest my littlest used to play in when we first moved here, and they first started school here. There is evidence of play of the small children that still come here. In a flash, another milestone, without warning, has been hit. This unpredictability - for me - is one of the hardest parts of parenting. What kind of psychological and emotional effort to psych myself up for, where the energy goes, and where to find more when things suddenly change direction.
Today I`ve found my peace in the past of this forest, in the solidarity of the trees. 💚
#parenting #milestones #independent
Smallest child was super fractious and angry this morning, and I thought it boded ill in terms of going into school. It was a stressful morning, lots of demand avoidance.
When I thought it was too late to get ready in time, I said "Right, it`s time to go," and the reply was "Ok, I want to go in alone today" and just like that, my home was empty.
Ready to walk and nowhere to go, I`m now sitting in the forest my littlest used to play in when we first moved here, and they first started school here. There is evidence of play of the small children that still come here. In a flash, another milestone, without warning, has been hit. This unpredictability - for me - is one of the hardest parts of parenting. What kind of psychological and emotional effort to psych myself up for, where the energy goes, and where to find more when things suddenly change direction.
Today I`ve found my peace in the past of this forest, in the solidarity of the trees. 💚
#parenting #milestones #independent
My brave child finally agreed to the food play that the ARFID therapist asked us to do.
My child was so so brave, touching edible items that have always been refused before, and asking to play with the toothpastes that have always been avoided, the mint and watermelon flavours, even trying to eat a few things too.
It was so much fun too, just making art with food. I`m really hopeful we can do this regularly. An amazing result and I`m so so proud.. 💜
My brave child finally agreed to the food play that the ARFID therapist asked us to do.
My child was so so brave, touching edible items that have always been refused before, and asking to play with the toothpastes that have always been avoided, the mint and watermelon flavours, even trying to eat a few things too.
It was so much fun too, just making art with food. I`m really hopeful we can do this regularly. An amazing result and I`m so so proud.. 💜
Wondering if this is helpful to anyone. Unfortunately I don`t know the author.
#autisminwomen #autisminwomenandgirls #autisticgirls
Wondering if this is helpful to anyone. Unfortunately I don`t know the author.
#autisminwomen #autisminwomenandgirls #autisticgirls
“Soon after she woke, she scrubbed her face with icy cold water, and a rough cloth. The warm sunshine shone on her skin, warming her up. For breakfast, she ate chunks of cheese on thick slabs of homemade bread.” (Heidi)
“She was so angry, she impulsively cracked her slate over his head.” (Anne of Green Gables)
I have strong memories of scenes from two different books I read as a child, resonating perhaps with who I am, and how I walk through the world. They often come to my mind, bringing a sense of aliveness to me. The first scene fills with me joy and contentment too. They bring a deep sensory experience to my soul.
Do you have any lines or scenes from books or TV shows, that gripped you with a big feeling, and that return to you over and over again, at different points in your life? What are they? Why do you think they have stayed with you?
#stories #scenes #storyofmylife #heroes #heroines #favouritebooks #favouritestories #childhoodstories #childhood
“Soon after she woke, she scrubbed her face with icy cold water, and a rough cloth. The warm sunshine shone on her skin, warming her up. For breakfast, she ate chunks of cheese on thick slabs of homemade bread.” (Heidi)
“She was so angry, she impulsively cracked her slate over his head.” (Anne of Green Gables)
I have strong memories of scenes from two different books I read as a child, resonating perhaps with who I am, and how I walk through the world. They often come to my mind, bringing a sense of aliveness to me. The first scene fills with me joy and contentment too. They bring a deep sensory experience to my soul.
Do you have any lines or scenes from books or TV shows, that gripped you with a big feeling, and that return to you over and over again, at different points in your life? What are they? Why do you think they have stayed with you?
#stories #scenes #storyofmylife #heroes #heroines #favouritebooks #favouritestories #childhoodstories #childhood
Säby Gård - perfect for walking, talking and fika!
#walkandtalk #mindfulness #nature #stockholm
Säby Gård - perfect for walking, talking and fika!
#walkandtalk #mindfulness #nature #stockholm
