About — Dr Nadine Ferris France (PhD)

I’m Dr Nadine Ferris France.

My work is about supporting people to understand themselves more deeply, so they can experience more clarity, ease, and freedom in their lives.

My Work

I’m a facilitator, coach, and researcher with over 25 years’ experience working with communities and individuals across global health, education, and leadership.

I’ve worked with organisations including the World Health Organisation, UN agencies and teams, universities, and a wide range of global, regional, and national NGOs and health institutions.

In 2015, I co-founded Beyond Stigma, a not-for-profit organisation focused on addressing self-stigma and shame through self-inquiry, creativity, and community-based approaches.

Alongside this work, I offer coaching, workshops, and retreats, supporting individuals and groups to explore how their thinking shapes their world.

My Approach

I am a Certified Facilitator of the Work of Byron Katie, as well as an Executive and Life Coach.

At the heart of my work is helping people to gently question the thoughts and beliefs that may be limiting their wellbeing, confidence, and sense of possibility. I use inquiry-based stress reduction or self-inquiry and meditation together with creative practices.

My work is grounded in three key areas:

Self-awareness
Understanding how your experience is being created and your responses

Emotional awareness
Learning to relate to emotions with more ease and less resistance.

Understanding the thought system
Seeing how thoughts influence how we feel, act, and relate to others.

When these become clearer, change often happens naturally.

Experience & Background

My work bridges evidence and lived experience.

I hold an MSc in Global Health from Trinity College Dublin and a PhD from University College Cork, where my research focused on self-stigma and shame among people living with HIV. I am an Adjunct Associate Professor with University of Limerick and have lectured in Trinity College. I hold diplomas in Executive and Life Coaching, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Creativity, Leadership and Innovation and have completed Bréné Brown’s Dare to Lead Workshop.

Over the years, I have lived and worked across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe. Much of my work on self-stigma, shame and relationships was informed by my own experience of divorce. I bring a deep appreciation for cultural context, connection, and shared human experience into everything I do.

A Little More About Me…

I’ve always believed that the personal and professional are deeply connected.

Outside of my work, I’m a mother of two, and I value time with my family and friends.

I love music and sing in a band, and I’m inspired by travel, photography, and the richness of human connection.

I speak French and Thai, not because I’m particularly good at languages, but because I love connecting with people in different parts of the world.

Here’s what people have to say…

"Thanks Nadine, That was a gorgeous morning. I feel so blessed to have your special existence in my life, you are like angel dust - I feel if I am near you it will rub off. You are fluent in the language of dreams, passion and poetry and shine like a star with dignity, strength and beauty. Thank you for your deep listening and heartfelt advice, you bring space and loving energy to unlock the tight knots that life presents. It is a kind of special magic. People like you come along and grace one’s life and make it extraordinary. In honour of your giant heart and gentle soul."

— Eileen, Ireland
To anyone wanting to feel free of the burden of beliefs and thoughts, that hold you back in life and cause suffering, then please work with Nadine. In just a few sessions, I feel the burdens of the past lift and the freedom to live life fully come in to my being. Nadine creates such a safe and loving container, to question what you feel is blocking love and peace within. Her energy is so authentic and real, that it makes it all so simple and doable. I cannot recommend her enough, in just a few sessions I feel transformed, lighter and able to see love where I could only see pain. Forever grateful."

-Georgina, Ireland
"Nadine is a very sincere and heart-warming person. What’s amazing about her is that she could go all the way with our stories, and always put her heart on many of our situations. Doing The Work with Nadine opened my heart to self-acceptance. I could see that everything outside me is a reflection of my own thinking. To be at Nadine’s workshop is my new addiction!"

— Fediah, Indonesia
"Nadine as a facilitator has this natural kindness which helps you connect with her straight away. When I did The Work with her I felt her looking at me- as a warmest embrace, gently guiding me in the process of finding my own truth. It was so subtle-that almost invisible, but yet I felt completely safe and comfortable to delve into my most internal un-investigated thoughts in her presence. Her attentiveness and involvement in me doing The Work was immense-I felt cared for to the tips of my toes. It was soooooooooo... effortless for her to give me time and space to trust her. I was just gladly noticing these last bits of my awkwardness dissolving in her pure joy of helping me finding my "way home". Ahhhh...Unforgettable memories:-). Nadine...so natural and truly gifted!'

- Asia, Ireland
"Love and compassion, love and compassion are the words that came out of me if asked to describe Nadine as a facilitator of the Work. Soft gentle eyes, an open personality, big heart, no judgment and genuine. Nadine has so much love to share, and I can feel it in her presence. She loves doing the Work and loves facilitating the Work. I feel very comfortable, I trust her, I feel secured. I could feel her genuine will to help others to experience the Work, I could just feel her compassion towards me and that is so beautiful and so real. In the session, she gives space, she travels with me, as if the onion is being peeled layer by layer to get to the core, to what feels true to me - to get to my truth. It's been a mind-blowing experience doing the Work with Nadine. I feel truly honoured and lucky to have her as a facilitator. Thank you, Nadine."

- Frika Salrein, Indonesia
"I have been aware of The Work of Byron Katie for a number of years now but it was only when I worked on my own personal challenges with Nadine that the power of The Work really struck me, Nadine is an expert facilitator of The Work and I have found my work with Nadine to be liberating, personally energizing and truly transformational. Working with Nadine has been extremely enjoyable, fun and inspirational."

- JJ, Ireland
"I just wanted to send you a short message to thank you so much for such a great session last night. I have never left a session like that feeling calm, peaceful or so relaxed!! As I was driving home two phrases came to my mind 'I have found You' (i.e.Me) and 'I have found You' to work with. Both phrases I felt really deeply. So thanks again, I've been observing my thoughts with a bit of space and I'm starting to playfully question..'is that really true?' Really looking forward to continuing The Work with you. "

-Personal client, Ireland
"Thank you so much for all your knowledge, presence and love you’ve shared with us at the seminar. Honestly for me it was mind blowing how so much compassion, truth and deep work can be packed into only a couple of hours we spent with you. From the moment you welcomed me in, I felt your big heart. I know it may sound like a cliché but I must say it! I was too scared and excited at the same time when I arrived to the room. So much so I couldn’t feel the full depth of your presence and nonjudgmental love. But as the day went on and I was able to more relax and allow myself just to be, the healing energy was soaking into my body. I felt so seen and safe in the circle of all the woman I had never seen. I surprised myself with speaking up when I’d have stayed quiet in the past. I believe it’s all because of your grounding and loving energy, because of soulful music Eimear shared with us and because of the huge power of sisterhood your seminar was so potent. Thank you again for this amazing experience."

- Lenka, Ireland
"When I arrived I immediately felt a sense of calm and a warm welcome. Nadine resonates a kind, and protective energy, that helped me to feel safe and accepted just the way I am in this moment. In this safe and calm atmosphere, to my amazement I stayed with the Work despite being afraid because I felt held and supported emotionally. I cannot remember feeling so safe and accepted like this before and it helped me to process what came up with confidence and know I’d be ok. Nadine effortlessly managed each of our needs individually and as a group. I came away clear of the method [The Work/Inquiry-based stress reduction] and motivated to bring it into my life as I experienced a deep sense of calm and knew it was a great tool to use for difficulties in my life. The live music from Eimear deepened and enhanced the experience. I would highly recommend this workshop."

- Anne Macken, Ireland
"Being the change we want to see is at the heart of the SheDecides movement – we want to live in a world where every girl and woman everywhere decides about her body, her future, her life. We are a tiny team supporting a huge movement with an audacious goal. Nadine is an extraordinary, talented, emotionally intelligent, change-oriented facilitator who led us through a process that is helping us to be the best we can be – and to love what is about our ways of working together. We are very fortunate to have had her dedication, knowledge and energy at the start of our working life together. Thank you Nadine for teaching us about ourselves, each other, and how we can be the change we want to see."

- Robin Gorna, UK

A photographic taste of the people I meet and places I live and work. All photos of people, taken with permission