Joonas Vehvilainen, BACP

Joonas Vehvilainen is a UK-based therapist originally from Finland who has also lived in Thailand and the United States. His early fascination with how the mind and brain work led him to study psychology at the University of York, where he completed his undergraduate degree in 2014, and to pursue a master’s in neuroscience at King’s College London in 2015 with a focus on behaviour related to addiction and mental health.

He gained practical experience in London between 2016 and 2019, working as a healthcare assistant in a mental health unit and as a recovery worker in supported accommodation for people facing mental health and addiction challenges. In 2019 he began a master’s in addiction psychology and counselling at London South Bank University while working part time as a counsellor for the NHS, Humankind, and WDP from 2019 to 2021. Those early counselling roles shaped his approach to therapy - combining assessment, psychoeducation, coping skills, and emotional support.

In 2021 he became a certified member of the BACP, a professional counselling association in the UK. In 2022 he launched his own practice and also worked as an addiction therapist at Castle Craig Hospital in Scotland. His background spans work with stress, anxiety, addictions, eating and body image issues, ADHD, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, anger, depression, and related areas. Joonas brings a blend of clinical training and lived experience in mental health settings to support people who seek help.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Joonas draws on evidence-informed approaches to tailor therapy to each person’s needs. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values, accept difficult thoughts and feelings, and commit to actions that align with what matters to them - it can be useful for anxiety, stress, and addiction-related struggles. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and how early experiences influence current connection and trust - it is helpful for intimacy issues, attachment concerns, and relationship difficulties. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers practical ways to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, supporting work on depression, anxiety, and coping skills.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Joonas works collaboratively with clients to understand their goals, preferences, and life circumstances and to choose or combine methods that feel most helpful for them. This shared decision making helps shape a personalised plan.

Online therapy with Joonas is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and communication styles. These options make it easier to access licensed professionals from different locations and to continue therapy when in-person sessions are not practical.