Joonas Vehvilainen
“Recovery happens when awareness meets acceptance. Therapy can help you move from reacting to responding, from feeling trapped to feeling choice again.”
Joonas is an experienced Accredited Member of BACP and an Advanced Practitioner Member of Addiction Professionals. Originally from Finland, Joonas has lived in Thailand, the USA, and the UK, where he has spent most of his life. Growing up, he was always fascinated by how the mind and brain work. So, when it was time to choose his career path, psychology was a natural choice.
In 2014, he completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of York, exploring various fields like social psychology, mental health disorders, and addiction. His passion for understanding human behaviour led him to pursue a Master’s degree in neuroscience at King’s College London in 2015, focusing on the behaviour behind addiction and mental health.
From 2016 to 2019, he was a healthcare assistant in a mental health unit and a recovery worker in supported accommodations for those dealing with mental health and addiction issues. Witnessing the challenges his clients faced inspired him to further his education.
In 2019, Joonas began a Master’s degree in Addiction Psychology and Counselling at London South Bank University (LSBU). While studying, he also worked part-time as a counsellor for the NHS, Humankind, and WDP from 2019 to 2021. These first two years as a counsellor solidified his understanding of supporting clients by analysing their issues, teaching coping skills, emphasising psychoeducation, and providing much-needed emotional support.
Joonas’s hard work paid off in 2021 when he became a certified member of the British Association of Counselling Practitioners (BACP) and Addiction Professionals. Shortly after this, he started his own practice, which he continued while working from March 2023 to November 2024 as an addiction therapist at Castle Craig Hospital in Scotland.
Based on feedback he has received from clients over the years, the words which are most frequently used to describe Joonas are “reliable”, “attentive” and “considerate”. He will aim to support you by creating a space that feels safe, calm and caring enough for you to begin your journey to recovery.
Joonas Vehvilainen specialises in the following
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Your therapist works with you in individual sessions to help you identify and change negative thinking patterns.
Dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT)
A type of talking therapy designed to help people who feel emotions particularly intensely and who struggle to regulate their emotions.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
Is a form of behavioural and mindfulness-based therapy that helps individuals accept difficult thoughts and emotions rather than fighting them. The core goal is to build "psychological flexibility" and commit to actions that align with your personal values.
Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT)
Is a short-term, goal-directed approach that helps you build desired behavioural changes rather than dissecting past problems. Operating on the belief that you already possess the resources to succeed, you and your therapist collaboratively define your future and amplify what is already working.
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Telephone
From the UK: 020 3098 2503
International: +44 (20) 3098 2503
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