A Safe Space to Heal: Meet Psychologist Nadia Samuelsson
- Lisa Dewberry
- Apr 29
- 6 min read
“What I love most about being a psychologist is witnessing those quiet, powerful moments of transformation — when someone begins to trust themselves again or feels truly seen and understood. It’s an incredible privilege to walk alongside people in their most vulnerable moments and see the strength and wisdom that unfolds from within,” says Nadia Samuelsson, an Ecuadorean-Swedish Licensed Psychologist and founder of Nadia Samuelsson Therapy & Mindfulness Practice, based in Torre del Mar, Spain.
For Nadia, the heart of her work lies in human connection. Being able to deeply connect with her clients, accompany them in their healing journey, and witness their growth is what continues to inspire her each day. Running her own practice also allows her the flexibility to adapt to each client’s needs — from session times to therapy style — creating a space that feels safe, personalized, and empowering.
Her journey into psychology was shaped by compassion and lived experience. “I began my private practice in 2018, and by November 2023, it became my full-time focus,” she shares. “I was deeply moved by the suffering I witnessed in Ecuador, especially among women who experienced domestic violence — something heartbreakingly common. Then, when a friend’s sister passed away, I supported the grieving family and realized I was naturally stepping into that role. These moments stirred something inside me — a calling to help others heal.”
A Global Lens with Local Heart
Nadia brings a unique international perspective to her work, having lived and worked in Ecuador, the Netherlands, and Spain. She is a registered child and adolescent psychologist with Stichting Kwaliteitsregister Jeugd in the Netherlands and has supported adolescents, young adults, adults, and expats facing migration-related stress and cultural transitions. Her therapeutic support also extends to individuals with autism and ADHD, parents and caregivers, and those navigating complex family dynamics. Her practice offers both in-person and online therapy — in English and Spanish — and covers a wide range of concerns including:
Anxiety & Depression
Anger & Emotional Regulation
Relationship Challenges
Trauma & Healing
Grief & Loss
Self-Esteem & Body Image
And works with:
Individuals
○ Adults
○ Adolescents
Couples
Group therapy
Deep Training, Compassionate Approach
Nadia’s extensive training is the foundation of her thoughtful, integrative approach. She earned her BSc in Clinical Psychology from Universidad San Francisco de Quito (2010–2015) and completed several postgraduate programs, including:
Victimology & Criminal Justice – Tilburg University (2016–2017)
Legal, Forensic & Criminological Psychopathology – International University of Catalonia (2017–2018)
Third Generation Therapies – Universitat de València (2023–2024)
These programs, combined with her hands-on experience, inform her dynamic use of therapeutic techniques tailored to the individual.
Nadia integrates various evidence-based methods into her sessions, including:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – helping clients by teaching them to accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions aligned with their values.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) – helping clients by guiding them to explore, understand, and transform painful emotions to support healing and personal growth.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – guiding the processing of past trauma using gentle eye movements or tapping
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) – offering tools to stay present and manage anxiety and stress
“These techniques help people face life’s challenges and focus on what truly matters,” she explains. “My approach is relational, compassionate, and centered on trust and safety. Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, so I adapt the process to meet each client’s emotional, mental, and even physical needs. A lot of healing comes from being able to pause and feel present in the ‘here and now’ — that’s when deep insight and healing often begin.”
Whole-Person Healing
Nadia’s therapy style is holistic and rooted in viewing each person as a whole system — mind, body, relationships, and culture. Her work goes beyond symptom management and into deeper understanding.
“Your body, environment, culture, and worldview all play a role in who you are and how you experience the world,” she says. “In therapy, we explore these elements together. When we bring all these parts into awareness, we can start to reconnect them — and that’s when real healing happens.”
She offers a variety of specialized therapy sessions, each designed to meet clients exactly where they are:
Anxiety & Depression Therapy: Tools and strategies to manage overwhelm and restore emotional balance
Anger & Emotional Regulation Therapy: Support in understanding and expressing intense emotions in healthier ways
Relationship Therapy: A space to rebuild trust, improve communication, and reconnect with loved ones
Trauma & Healing Sessions: Safe, paced work to process painful experiences gently and effectively
Grief & Loss Therapy: Support through life’s most difficult transitions and losses
Self-Esteem & Body Image Therapy: A path toward self-acceptance and a more compassionate self-view
Walking Toward Healing
Nadia also offers Walk and Talk Therapy in Nerja, Torrox and Torre del Mar — a practice rooted in the therapeutic power of movement and nature. “Walking is a natural way for the body to regulate itself,” she explains. “It helps calm the nervous system, support digestion, and slow racing thoughts — which is especially helpful when someone is feeling overwhelmed. Walk and Talk sessions offer a deeper, more embodied experience, and often help people open up in a different way.” At Nadia Samuelsson Therapy & Mindfulness Practice, this flexible and grounded approach invites clients to explore healing both within the therapy room and in the natural world around them.
This approach is supported by a 2025 study by Wong et al., which found that just 30 minutes of guided walking in nature led to an 88% increase in feeling connected to nature. The study noted after just two weeks of applying the mindfulness and relaxation techniques to their daily routines, participants showed reduced psychological distress, and improvements in resilience, mindful attention and sleep quality.
Accessible, Supportive, and Human
For Nadia, therapy is not only for those in crisis — it’s for anyone looking to deepen their self-understanding, navigate life changes, or simply find more peace. “Therapy offers a nonjudgmental space where you can feel seen and heard,” she says. “Whether you’re facing stress, anxiety, grief, or just a general feeling of being stuck, it can help you build emotional resilience, improve relationships, and reconnect with yourself.”
Accessibility is a core value for Nadia. She’s especially passionate about offering support to those who might not have access to traditional aftercare clinic services, whether due to financial, cultural, or geographic barriers. Her past work reflects this commitment. Nadia has supported inmates in prisons, observed courtroom proceedings in both Magistrates' and Crown Courts, and worked in a psychiatric crisis unit, learning to assess and assist people in acute distress.
In Ecuador, she served as a forensic psychologist at the National Center of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. In the Netherlands, she worked at a unique European inpatient clinic for adolescents. She now works in an inpatient trauma setting in Spain, where care is focused not only on the individual but also on their family system.
What to Expect: A Safe Start
Nadia’s individual online sessions begin with a calming mindfulness practice and a chance to connect. During the initial session, you’ll share what’s on your mind, and she’ll answer any questions to ensure it feels like the right fit.
From there, she introduces grounding tools to help you reconnect with your inner self. Sessions focus not just on what you say, but also on what you feel — physically and emotionally — helping you develop self-awareness and presence, one step at a time.
She also offers group therapy sessions for 3 to 10 individuals, creating a supportive space where participants can connect through shared experiences. These sessions foster a sense of belonging, reduce feelings of isolation, and offer opportunities for mutual support, reflection, and learning. By witnessing and resonating with others’ journeys, individuals often gain new perspectives, deepen self-awareness, and build emotional resilience—strengthening both their inner world and their relationships.
Ready to Begin?
If you're ready for meaningful change, Nadia’s integrative, whole-person approach to therapy offers a powerful path forward. Her deep presence, mindfulness training, and international expertise help clients feel safe, heard, and empowered to move toward healing.
Whether you’re feeling anxious, stuck, or simply curious about therapy, Nadia is here to support your next step. You can reach out to her directly at nadiasamuelssontherapy@gmail.com to book an initial consultation or learn more about her services.
“True healing is the courageous journey to embrace your whole self with compassion and mindfulness. I aim to create a space where you feel heard, supported, and safe — because your journey should feel empowering,” she says.
Are you ready to take the next step toward a more grounded, connected you?
Comments