Joonas Vehvilainen
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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Utilising my neuroscience and addictions academic and professional background, I will support you to not just survive but regain control of your life one day at a time. I am originally from Finland but have also lived in Thailand, USA and currently the United Kingdom where I have resided most of my life. I have been working as a therapist for over 4 years now and have had my own practice since 2022 in which I have developed a unique approach to therapy which works on a similar basis to psychoeducation. This technique provides information to you, related to the biology of the brain and the workings of the human mind. It is an evidence-based therapeutic intervention derived from over 10 years of studying psychology, neuroscience and their relation to addiction and mental health. My therapeutic approach aims to teach a combination of awareness and problem-solving toward the routines that might be negatively affecting your day-to-day life. I am not only here to listen your issues, but I am also here to actively help you solve them. I use techniques I have learned from ACT, DBT, CBT, solution-focused, schema therapy and other modalities of therapy. While the techniques can be separated into these different labels, something I strongly believe in is the fact that not just one specific technique of therapy should be used to help clients. The therapy I aim to offer combines various types of analytic therapy together, tailored for your individual needs as a unique person. From experience I have found it is essential for clients to share what they believe is going well and what they could see being improved in the therapy sessions. This is critical as the sessions are yours and it is okay for you to spend time working on only yourself in what you believe is the most effective way. While my approach is based on analysis and finding solutions, I also highly value patients being as comfortable as possible in the sessions as well. Based on feedback I have received from clients over the years, the words which are most frequently used to describe me are “reliable”, “attentive” and “considerate”. I will aim to support you by creating a space that feels safe, calm and caring enough for you to find the answers you are looking for.
“I think Joonas is a caring, empathetic and knowledgeable professional able to facilitate a safe environment, the support you require in the therapeutic modalities you require them in, and the tools to help you help yourself"
Training, qualifications & experience
I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of York. I have also acquired a master’s degree in Neuroscience at King's College London. Most recently, I completed a master’s in Addiction Psychology and Counselling at London South Bank University. I have a PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) Registration with Disclosure Scotland. I frequently update my knowledge and skills of counselling through Continued Professional Development which includes training on Drama Therapy, sex addiction/compulsion, working with neurodiverse clients and more.
I have worked as counsellor for several years in various places across the UK such as addiction recovery services like WDP, the NHS and most recently Castle Craig. Now, my focus is on my Private Practice.
Member organisations
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Fees
£50.00 per session
Free initial telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
If you are a student, unemployed or for any reason are struggling to afford therapy I am happy to work on a sliding scale to suit your situation.
When I work
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Further information
I am originally from Finland but have also lived in Thailand, USA and currently the United Kingdom where I have resided most of my life. I have met many people of various backgrounds throughout my life. These experiences have inspired me to want to support people no matter what situation they might find themselves in. If there is one word my friends and family world describe me by it would be ‘open’. I am very open to taking on new experiences and helping clients with any issues I can support them with.
