Nadia's approach to therapy is integrative, which means using a number of therapeutic techniques, sometimes in isolation and sometimes combined. They are summarised below.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

This therapy concentrates on questioning ideas that are often deeply ingrained in the mind, but which may cause depression or anxiety, and damage self-confidence.

Looking at the connection between the way we think, feel and therefore behave in some situations can help us to face those situations in a more positive way.

CBT generally takes place over a relatively short period, perhaps as few as 12 sessions. It may be a  "stand-alone" treatment, but is often an element in more complex therapeutic programmes.  

Psychodynamic Counselling

This is closely related to Freudian psychoanalysis. It recognises that the psyche is a constant influence on the way we live and relate to others. Often our reactions to experiences in earlier life (which may go back as far as childhood) are remembered, consciously or unconsciously, and repeated in future relationships.

The client is helped to make sense of feelings and thoughts evoked by current situations and memories. The relationship with the self as well as with others is considered. This involves exploration of the powerful influence of the unconscious mind, the importance of past experiences and the use of defence mechanisms to block painful emotions.

Person-centered Counselling

In this form of therapy, the therapist or counsellor enables the client to make contact with and better understand his or her internal influences. The therapist provides a safe and supportive environment for the process

Clients are acknowledged as their own best resource for change and  growth. But the relationship with the therapist is very important. The therapist actively listens, comparing what is being revealed to previous disclosures. Mutual trust is important.

Through this process, it gradually becomes possible for a client to re-experience feelings, enabling them to become fully aware of their true self, recognising links between the past and the present and preparing the ground for problem resolution.

Motivational Interviewing

This is useful because it confronts ambivalence to making changes and achieving goals, which can be a key stumbling block to the therapeutic process. Motivation is built up gradually, strengthening commitment. 

Motivational interviewing draws on strategies from person-centred counselling, CBT and systems theory. The therapist has an important and strong role, and chooses the right moments to intervene. This can be integrated with a broad range of other strategies.

Multi-cultural therapy

This is not a therapeutic discipline in its own right, but an increasingly important area of activity. Multi-cultural therapy encourages the treatment of culturally diverse individuals with dignity, respect and responsibility.

Therapists need to subject their own judgement to scrutiny, which can help them become aware of over-generalisation and stereotyping. One of the goals is to help clients feel free to express their uniqueness within their preferred cultural style. Clients can identify the self that may have been suppressed earlier in life, and recognise how pressure from society may have forced them to try to be someone other than their unique self.