Hi, I’m CHRISTINA.
Holistic health, psychology and education have been my passion for the last 15 years.
I hold a B Psych Honours degree in Psychology/Psychometry from the University of Pretoria and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from UNISA. I am a Specialist Wellness Counsellor and Psychometrist, registered with the HPCSA and the ASCHP. I’m also an Integrative Enneagram Practitioner with iEQ9 and training with the IFSCA Counselling Association.
Wellness counselling is a primary health care service focused on holistic wellness. This is shift away from the conventional medical or mechanistic model towards a holistic and noetic approach where the interplay between mind, body and spirit is acknowledged and the person is understood in context. This becomes the framework for understanding ourselves better.
I am also deeply passionate about assisting young people in discovering their strengths, values, and interests to find meaningful direction in their lives. Through career assessments, we explore their unique competencies, personality and passions, providing clarity and confidence as they make important educational and career decisions. Understanding oneself in this holistic way empowers young people to choose paths that are authentic, fulfilling, and aligned with who they truly are, laying a strong foundation for personal and professional growth.
I'm unwavering in my dedication to provide a safe and secure space for my clients. This safe space is held by an ethical code of conduct, a compassionate attitude towards people and an authentic way or relating to one another. This in turn may facilitate an authentic connection within - to truly listen to our hearts, our inner child and the multifaceted mind.
Central to my philosophy is the belief that well-being is rooted in the interconnectedness of body and mind. I am particularly interested in the relationship between nutrition, gut health, and mental well-being, and I value complementary approaches to health that include mindful living, balanced nutrition, and natural remedies.
Inspired by the romantic ideals of the eighteenth-century Swiss philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, particularly in his work Emile, I resonate with the idea that human beings flourish when they remain connected to their natural impulses and the rhythms of the natural world. Rousseau’s vision of education rooted in nature reflects my own belief that learning and development occur most authentically when individuals are given space to grow in alignment with their innate nature. In the spirit of Rousseau’s words, “Let there be no book but the world,” I value experiential learning and a life lived in meaningful relationship with nature.
Drawing further inspiration from the work of Gabor Maté and the Compassionate Inquiry approach, as well as Internal Family Systems, I believe that curiosity and self-compassion are foundational to healing and personal transformation. Through mindful self-awareness, supportive dialogue, and intentional self-care practices such as meditation, nutrition, and reflective living, individuals can cultivate resilience, deepen self-understanding, and move toward a more integrated and balanced life.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/counselling/christina-nova/1298959
My Approach
I provide a safe, supportive space where you can connect with your higher Self….your core essence that is calm, present, and deeply aware. In Internal Family Systems (IFS), this inner state is known as Self Energy. The goal of IFS is to help you access this state, where you can experience peace, curiosity, and compassion for yourself.
Imagine a moment when you felt your best—perhaps lying under a tree on a warm summer day, feeling grateful and connected to life. In that moment, you were likely experiencing a lot of Self Energy. This energy exists in all of us; it’s the core part of you that is always calm, compassionate, creative, and connected.
IFS is a healing approach that helps you connect with the different parts of yourself…your emotions, thoughts, and beliefs. These parts may have become disconnected or burdened over time, especially from difficult experiences in childhood. Through IFS, you can reconnect with these parts using your Self Energy, much like a caring adult would comfort a child. This compassionate connection helps those parts feel seen, valued, and understood, leading to inner harmony and healing.
Some of your inner parts may hold painful memories or limiting beliefs that formed in response to challenging experiences. These parts may have felt alone, without support. In IFS, you invite your higher Self to witness and care for these parts, creating a healing process. This compassionate witnessing allows the burdened parts to release their pain, bringing their stories and feelings into harmony with the rest of your system.
My role in this process is simple: I help you tap into your Self Energy, so you can connect with and heal the parts of yourself that are carrying distress. Together, we create a space where these parts feel safe to soften and share their experiences.
Ultimately, IFS guides you toward Self-leadership…where your higher Self leads your inner system with a sense of calmness, self-compassion, and confidence. As you nurture and listen to your inner parts, they come to trust that your Self is present and capable of leading. This results in a calmer, more confident, and less stressful way of being in the world.
SELF - COMPASSION
Self-compassion is an emotionally positive self-attitude that should protect against the negative consequences of self-judgment, isolation, and rumination.
Self - CuRIOSITY
Self-curiosity can give us direct access to our inner world. It can help us grow and transform into emotionally healthier human beings