Joonas Vehvilainen , BACP

Joonas Vehvilainen brings an international perspective to his therapy practice, having roots in Finland and lived experience in Thailand, the USA, and the United Kingdom. His curiosity about how mind and brain interact led him to study psychology and later neuroscience, with undergraduate training in psychology at the University of York followed by a master’s degree in neuroscience at King’s College London focusing on the behaviour behind addiction and mental health.

Early roles as a healthcare assistant in a mental health unit and as a recovery worker exposed him to the realities of mental health and addiction care, and inspired further professional training. While completing a master’s in addiction psychology and counselling at London South Bank University, he worked part-time as a counsellor for the NHS, Humankind, and WDP. Those roles shaped a practical approach that blends assessment, psychoeducation, coping skills training, and emotional support.

In 2021 he became a certified member of the BACP - a professional body for counselling practitioners - and Addiction Professionals. He has delivered more than 1,000 hours of counselling and in 2022 established his own practice while also working as an addiction therapist at Castle Craig Hospital in Scotland. Joonas works with a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, addictions, eating and body image issues, ADHD, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, anger, depression, and attachment-related difficulties. He offers therapy in English and Finnish and accepts international clients.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Joonas draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients clarify personal values and develop psychological flexibility. ACT encourages practical action toward meaningful goals while learning to live with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and issues like addiction.

He also integrates Attachment-Based Therapy to explore early relationship patterns and how they shape current connections. This work supports people facing attachment issues, intimacy-related struggles, codependency, and relationship difficulties by fostering safer emotional bonds and improved interpersonal understanding.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) features in his practice as a structured way to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns. CBT techniques are often effective for stress, anxiety, depression, and habit-related problems by teaching concrete skills and coping strategies.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Joonas works with each person to assess needs, try methods, and adjust the plan so therapy fits the client’s goals and preferences. Licensed professionals and therapists often combine techniques to suit individual situations.

Online therapy offers flexible options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into a busy life and to access support from different locations. These formats allow ongoing therapeutic work with consistent contact and practical scheduling advantages.