About us
Befriend is dedicated to walking people home to their true selves and community.
About Nadia
I began my career in psychotherapy with a deep interest in neuroscience. In my early 20s, after years of ill health (starting aged 9), I began to suffer severe symptoms. After seeing over 45 specialists, the trauma of misdiagnosis, and losing functionality completely, I decided to choose an alternative route to save my own life.
I recovered from multiple tick-borne infections, mould illness (CIRS), autoimmune disease, anxiety, chemical and food sensitivity, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, interstitial cystitis, heavy metal toxicity, and complex post-traumatic stress (cptsd). My passion to help others heal led me to hone my skills through further accredited professional courses. My approach is bespoke to each client and is a combination of depth psychology, internal family systems, limbic system/brain re-training, inner relationship focusing, somatic experiencing, poylvagal theory, attachment Theory, and Hakomi (body oriented therapy). I also utilise emotionally expressive writing, art, meditation, movement, visualisation and laughter to help reconnect people to their innately whole mind-body-being.
- BA Hons Social Psychology University of Sussex (2003)
- MSc Hons Psychology and Neuroscience University of Sussex (2004)
- PG Dip Counselling Psychology University Of London (licensed UK) (2005)
- Interpersonal Neurobiology for healthcare professionals with Dr Daniel Siegel (2016-2017)
- Foundations Of Focusing – Focusing Institute (2017)
- Compassion Based Mindfulness Teacher 2018-2019 - certified
- Master NLP Practitioner (certified and insured) (2018)
- Trauma Informed Yoga teacher training RYT 200 (2017-2018)
- Internal Family Systems Therapy (2018-2020)
- Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy (2021)
- HeartMath Trainer and HeartMath trained Healthcare Professional (2018)
- Limbic system re-training coach for the Gupta Program (2018-2019)
- PsychK Facilitator (2020)
- Mindful Compassionate Dialogue (2017 and continuing)
- Healthcare professional training in mind body recovery with Dr Howard Schubiner (2017 and 2020)
- Healthcare professional training with Dr Rick Hanson; Hardwiring Happiness (2019)
- Melting The Shame Freeze with Bret Lyon (2022)
- Compassionate Inquiry – 12-month Psychotherapeutic training with Dr Gabor Maté (2021-2022)
- Certificate In Somatic Strategies with Linda Thai (2022)
- Therapist attachment training with Diane Poole Heller (2022-2023)
- Somatic Experiencing Practitioner SEP (2024)
Having attended 6 advanced and 4 advanced follow-up workshops led by DrJoe Dispenza as well as assisting, I am very comfortable weaving this into my teaching if clients wish.
My work harnesses health rather than focusing on illness or trying to get rid of symptoms. I do not see this work as a ‘treatment’ for ‘sickness’ but as a discovery of what physical, emotional or social factors block the innate ability to recover, which will be unique for each person. Clients find this collaborative process empowering and fun. As sessions progress, clients improve their emotional and physiological resilience along with gaining an increased capacity to feel joy and appreciation for themselves and their life. My clients range from CEOs dealing with burnout to patients recovering from decades-long chronic illnesses.
I live in Portland, Oregon in the US. I am a keen tennis player, a dog mum to two mini Aussies, a student for life of yoga, love goats, and am a total bookworm. I am introverted and I am a highly sensitive person (HSP), so I champion ways of moving through the world that allow HSP's to be who we are with confidence and ease. I believe that a successful life is one of growth, community, honouring nature, and an open heart; not the capitalist definition of success. I am allergic to bullshit and to taking myself too seriously. My dream is a little homestead with goats, donkeys, and many rescue dogs where people can come and stay for retreats and healing with the land.
