About us
Befriend is dedicated to walking people home to their true selves and community.
Nadia Georgiou
I began my career as a psychotherapist with a deep interest in neuroscience. In my early 20s, after years of ill health (starting aged 9), I began to suffer severe symptoms. After seeing over 45 specialists of many years, the trauma of misdiagnosis and being told I could not heal, I lost functionality and my life fell apart. After years of dead ends, harsh treatments, and trying to fix, force and fight my way to health, I realised I was at war with myself and my own body.
I delved back into my neuroscience background and learned about the profound impact of a chronic stress response on the immune system, nervous system, and endocrine system. Having symptoms in so many different organ systems, along with severe mood issues, began to make sense because they all had this common root.
My brain was stuck in loop of reacting like I was in constant danger, and the resulting chronic stress response was creating inflammation, lowering my immunity leading to chronic infections, changing my hormone balance, causing deficiencies, and creating chronic pain and severe fatigue. It was a revelation to understand my body was not broken, and this was not my fault or failing. This was a very natural mammalian protective mechanism that had just gotten stuck, so could not get back to rest and repair mode yet when my body could self heal.
For the first time, I got curious about why I had gotten so stuck in this state of alarm, and began to trust the wisdom of my body in having slowed me down (put me entirely on my ass!) so that I could look at my life, how I responded to my condition and symptoms, and my relationship with myself. A new approach founded in respect and kindness led me to befriend my own mind, body and life, which informs how I work with my clients today. As an HSP (highly sensitive person), I am very adept at working with other HSP's to allow this gift to flourish.
I recovered from multiple tick-borne infections, mould illness (CIRS), autoimmune disease, anxiety, chemical and food sensitivity, orthorexia, fibromyalgia, severe chronic fatigue syndrome, interstitial cystitis, pelvic pain, heavy metal toxicity, and childhood trauma (cptsd).
My approach is bespoke to each client and is a combination of depth psychology, internal family systems, limbic system/brain re-training, inner relationship focusing, somatic experiencing, poylvagal theory, attachment Theory, and Hakomi (body oriented therapy). I also utilise emotionally expressive writing, art, meditation, movement, visualisation and laughter to help reconnect people to their innately whole mind-body-being.
I have the joy of working with truly exceptional people as they navigate some of the hardest chapters of their lives. This continues to be an immense honour and source of fulfilment for me. No one needs to achieve with me or get anything right. We are a team and I will champion you until you can do this for yourself. I have seen hundreds of recoveries in private practice and in our low cost community. We welcome you to join us and walk your own hero's journey home to your health..
These mind-body conditions will continue to rise in this world that prizes pushing through and disconnection of mind and body, in ways that hurt us all individually and collectively. Healing therefore is about reconnection, re igniting our innate rhythms of regulation in tune with nature, compassion for ourselves and one another, and play!
- BA Hons Social Psychology University of Sussex (2003)
- MSc Hons Psychology and Neuroscience University of Sussex (2004)
- PG Dip Counselling Psychology University Of London (licensed UK) (2005)
- Interpersonal Neurobiology for healthcare professionals with Dr Daniel Siegel (2016-2017)
- Foundations Of Focusing – Focusing Institute (2017)
- Compassion Based Mindfulness Teacher 2018-2019 - certified
- Master NLP Practitioner (certified and insured) (2018)
- Trauma Informed Yoga teacher training RYT 200 (2017-2018)
- Internal Family Systems Therapy (2018-2020)
- Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy (2021)
- HeartMath Trainer and HeartMath trained Healthcare Professional (2018)
- Limbic system re-training coach for the Gupta Program (2018-2019)
- PsychK Facilitator (2020)
- Mindful Compassionate Dialogue (2017 and continuing)
- Healthcare professional training in mind body recovery with Dr Howard Schubiner (2017 and 2020)
- Healthcare professional training with Dr Rick Hanson; Hardwiring Happiness (2019)
- Melting The Shame Freeze with Bret Lyon (2022)
- Compassionate Inquiry – 12-month Psychotherapeutic training with Dr Gabor Maté (2021-2022)
- Certificate In Somatic Strategies with Linda Thai (2022)
- Therapist attachment training with Diane Poole Heller (2022-2023)
- Somatic Experiencing Practitioner SEP (2024)
- Brainspotting levels 1 and 11 (Completing certification Feb 2025)
Having attended 6 advanced and 4 advanced follow-up workshops led by DrJoe Dispenza as well as assisting, I am very comfortable weaving this into my teaching if clients wish.
My work harnesses health and building wellbeing rather than focusing on illness or trying to get rid of symptoms. I do not see this work as a ‘treatment’ for ‘sickness’ but as a discovery of what physical, emotional or social factors block the innate ability to recover, which will be unique for each person. Clients find this collaborative process empowering and fun. As sessions progress, clients improve their emotional and physiological resilience along with gaining an increased capacity to feel joy and appreciation for themselves and their life. My clients range from CEOs dealing with burnout to patients recovering from decades-long chronic illnesses. Over time, clients need me less, and become self sustaining and thriving in their lives.
I live in Portland, Oregon in the US. I am a keen tennis player, a dog mum to three mini Aussies, a student for life of yoga, love goats, and am a total bookworm. I am introverted and I am a highly sensitive person (HSP), so I champion ways of moving through the world that allow HSP's to be who we are with confidence and ease. I believe that a successful life is one of growth, community, honouring nature, and an open heart; not the capitalist definition of success. I am allergic to bullshit and to taking myself too seriously. My dream is a little homestead with goats, donkeys, and many rescue dogs where people can come and stay for retreats and healing with the land and with laughter.
Athene Knüfer, PhD
As a former neuroscientist who has been on their own recovery journey from a severe bed bound state, healing a plethora of chronic symptoms and diagnoses such as ME/CFS, FND and chronic pain, amongst others, I have found depth, purpose and real joy in my role as a Somatic Mind-Body Coach and Yoga Nidra guide. I have had a life-long fascination with the nervous system and human psyche. When I had my perfect storm, I had been working on the role of neuroplasticity within brain development as a postdoctoral researcher -while simultaneously being very disembodied.
With a background of complex childhood trauma, I was conditioned to feel like I always had to achieve something or be productive to feel enough. I was so burnt out that it took just one back injury and a virus to lead to complete shutdown, though looking back I had been experiencing symptoms on and off since childhood. Becoming unwell, I had an intuitive sense that my mind and body had been pushed too far and I became determined to heal myself, despite statistics and doctors who told me otherwise. I truly believe that with the right access to support and education around the nervous system’s unique role in shaping health, every body has the potential to heal and live a life that is more authentic and aligned with their values and unique needs. It is a joy to walk with others on this path of self-empowerment.
Reconnecting to the body has been the hardest and also most fruitful part of my healing. I believe that the body contains unique wisdom and I have a special interest in trauma-sensitive somatic practices and gently cultivating safety in the body, drawing on the lineages of generative somatics, Hakomi and Somatic Experiencing. In addition, I incorporate the science of mind-body medicine and nervous system repatterning techniques, yoga nidra, mindfulness-based self compassion, narrative and visualisation practice, as well as attachment theory into my coaching and mentoring. My approach is unique to each client and I also highlight avenues to incorporate ease, joy and silliness into life, such as through connection to nature, music or community. As a queer and neurodivergent person, I’m also happy to provide a safe space to those who identify as LGBTQIA+ or ND. I am always expanding my knowledge and skill set and I am committed to ongoing growth in anti-oppressive and decolonial ways of existing in this world.
