Nasif Nijabat
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hello,
My Name is Nasif Nijabat, but I am also known as Nij.
I have extensive experience in working with families, couples, adult individuals and young people presenting with: complex, emotional well-being and mental health issues, within a health and social care setting for over 20 years from a grass roots level.
I currently work as a service and clinical lead for a London mental health service in the NHS. I am also supervisor and visiting lecturer at the Tavistock & Portman Centre and am in the final stages of my doctoral studies at the same institution. This is all in addition to my private practice from my home.
Mental health can be a scary label, attached with an array of stigma’s and challenges when facing it alone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. My aim and hope is to support people in facing some of these challenges, so that they don’t feel as overwhelming.
I am able to create a safe, secure, non-judgmental space where, empathy, transparency and sensitivity is paramount and the higher context.
I do not see the “problem” as being located in you, but a shared, relational and contextual issue, which can be unpacked and thought about together.
With an intent to finding hands on solutions so that you are able to gain more insight and management over your situation and issues.
I do not claim to be able to solve your problems or that I have the answers.
However I am able to facilitate a space where we will be able to begin to unpack your issues together, attending to the process and patterns of behaviours.
Which will then provide you with the ability to draw upon your own resources and strengths.
I am passionate about what I do, and I engage actively within sessions, sharing my thoughts, feelings (where appropriate), formulations and hypothesis - with a practical, solution focused approach with strategies and recommendations.
I am unorthodox in my approach, but fully adhere to the relevant ethical guidelines and frameworks.
I ultimately attend to the human connectedness and relational aspects first and foremost, honouring the client/you first. With the view that once trust is earned and built, the rest will follow.
I also have an acute awareness towards the power dynamics in the room, whilst holding a self-reflexive position at all times.
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
I have a MSc in Systemic Psychotherapy from the Tavistock & Portman Centre and also a BA in Social work.
I am currently a doctoral candidate in advanced practice and research: systemic psychotherapy also at Tavistock & Portman Centre.
I am also a part-time lecturer at the Tavistock & Portman
Experience & current role.
I have over 20 years experience working from a grass roots level in health and social care with adults, families and young people in a variety of settings within inner city London.
I currently work for the NHS as a highly specialised systemic and family psychotherapist and Clinical lead in the Child & Adolescence Mental Health Services and youth offending services.
My area of interest/specialism/focus is on the grooming process and exploitation of young people, and related trauma; not only for the young person but the family as a whole.
I am also a part-time lecturer, and experiential group tutor/lecturer at the Tavistock & Portman clinic on the child, adolescent and family mental wellbeing: multidisciplinary practice course - systemic module.
I consult with schools, social care and provide group, individual, couple and family therapy. I have published various academic articles regarding my work also.
I have a proven track record of engaging “hard to reach clients” specifically young people involved with the youth justice system; and this is something that I intend to research further in my studies.
I have over 10 years experience of providing supervision to staff within non-statutory services, NHS mental health staff, school staff and group supervision. An emphasis is given to self reflexivity, safeguarding/risk and systemic issues in regards to case discussion.
What is Systemic Psychotherapy?
Systemic therapy is a approach/way of thinking that is different to other theoretical models. It is a approach to working with: individuals, couples, families and groups.
As a systemic thinker I believe that everyone (individual) exists in a system, whether it is family, a relationship, culture, religion, work, school or so on. A system is simply a community or network in which you act on and are affected by.
There are many approaches within systemic therapy but all seek to bring about 3 major shifts in the “system”:
- shift perspective from the individual to systems (e.g. couple, family, etc.) dynamics
- shift from linear to circular causality (e.g. a causes b causes a causes b cause ...)
- separate content and process (i.e. content is the details, process is a level deeper and explains what is going on relationally and in relationships)
• So, in shifting one's perspective to systems dynamics, the client(s) may look at rules, roles and boundaries through therapy make changes where needed.
• Another way to look at circular causality is moving away from blaming but accepting responsibility/being accountable for their role in the “sharing” of the problem.
• What is content and process? Content is the details of a situation that people get caught up in. Content isn't really resolvable because the undercurrent – the process – doesn't change unless you actually focus the work on that.
Additionally, I think about the wider context and relational issues surrounding clients and their problems: such as the family, economic factors, beliefs, identity, self-esteem, gender, faith, sexuality, class, support networks and so on.
In turn, focusing on how this impacts on the person in relation to their emotional wellbeing.
What Systemic Psychotherapy doesn’t do:
Other psychotherapeutic approaches feel that difficult past experiences become ‘roots’ that lead to our present-day problems. For example, psychodynamic psychotherapy sees you talking about your past each session.
1. A systemic lens doesn’t try to find the cause in the past. Instead, it looks to the groups you operate within and believes a pattern of dysfunctional behaviours and beliefs cause our issues.
2. It doesn’t see you as “flawed” or needing a “diagnosis”
This places the blame on the individual. Systemic therapy would suggest you are a resourceful, powerful person. You are just unfortunately operating in a family or group that has unhelpful or unhealthy patterns.
3. It’s practical over analytical
Many types of therapy seek to understand. Why are you are who you are, and what causes you to do things? It’s analytical.
Systemic therapy seeks to troubleshoot and solve. What is causing you or the group to be stuck? What nudge could create new movement in the ways you relate and communicate? It’s practical.
What sort of issues can systemic therapy help with?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines (NICE) recommends systemic therapy for:
alcohol dependence
antisocial behaviour
conduct disorder (children).
Systemic therapy can also be helpful for things like:
addictions and substance abuse
anxiety/ anxiety disorders/ panic disorders
body image issues and eating disorders
depression
low self-esteem
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
relationship problems
schizophrenia.
Benefits of systemic therapy – is it for you?
How can systemic therapy benefit you, your family, or your group? It’s a therapy for you if you’d like to:
- see your problems in new and different ways
- understand different perspectives
- recognise your strengths and resources and how to use them
learn how to work together (if attending as family) - find ways to deal with difficulties that work for you and those around you
identify beneficial changes - cope better as a unit.
What is EMDR therapy?
I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy as a Practitioner and have several years of experience providing sessions to clients. For further information, do not hesitate to contact me to discuss.
EMDR enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. Please see link for more info:
http://emdrmasterclass.com/about-emdr/
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) is a leading professional body for the education, training and regulation of psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. Its register is accredited by the government's Professional Standards Authority.
As part of its commitment to protect the public, it works to improve access to psychotherapy, to support and disseminate research, to improve standards and to respond effectively to complaints against its members.
UKCP standards cover the range of different psychotherapies. Registration is obtained by training or accrediting with one of its member organisations, or by holding a European Certificate in Psychotherapy. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
I am able to work with most issues in regards to emotional well-being and mental health. however my specialist area is with people that have been exploited in a abusive way and the trauma related to this - I am currently working with young people who have been groomed into gangs and religious violent radicalised ideology.
I also have over 8 years experience of providing supervision to staff within non-statutory services, nhs mental health staff, school staff and group supervision. An emphasis is given to self reflexivity, safeguarding/risk and systemic issues in regards to case discussion.
Fees
£85.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
Sessions: 1 hour
Supervision sessions up to 90 mins
prices reflect expertise and experience.
Individual session: £85
EMDR: £70
Couples therapy: £110
Family therapy session: £120
Group therapy: please inquire.
Supervison: £85
Prices reflect specialism and expertise
When I work
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I will aim to respond to inquires within 24hrs.
Thank you.
Further information
A session equates to 1hr.
Sessions will be conducted primarily on Saturdays as I have a small private practice and work for the NHS full time during the week. I am able to provide this from my home in Dunmow or at your home if you prefer.
I adhere to all the ethical procedures, practices and policies within the UKCP & AFT guidelines and also have PI insurance and have been enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked
