Nasif Nijabat

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 therapist, and registered with the EMDR UK and Ireland regulatory body.

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/

£90.00 per session

 I will aim to respond to inquires within 24hrs. Thank you.