Psychotherapy
At Ab KBTterapi.ax , we welcomeanyone in need of counseling, regardless of the nature of their challenges. You do not need a referral; you are welcome to contact us directly. We offer both in-person sessions and online counseling in Swedish and English.
Individual psychotherapy/counseling for children, adolescents, and adults from all over Swedish-speaking Finland
My name is Petra Berg, and I work at KBTterapi.ax. I have over 20 years of professional experience working with children, young adults, and adults. Over the years, I have worked with clients on everything from a few support sessions to long-term psychotherapy for people who need more time to learn to understand their illness. You can read more about my experience here.
I offer individual therapy for
people receiving FPA/KELA therapy ( rehabilitative psychotherapy)
those of you who have been granted a personal payment commitment from HUS ( Helsinki University Hospital via the Palse service voucher system)
those of you who have health insurance that covers psychotherapy
without a referral. In that case, you'll have to pay the full cost of the visit yourself.
I'll meet you whether you live in Kokkola in the north or on Korpo in the Åboland archipelago.
You can always book a free 30-minute initial consultation with me, during which I'll tell you more about how I work and what I recommend for you as a client based on your situation.
When can psychotherapy be helpful?
I help clients whose mental health issues have begun to affect their daily lives to the point where they feel paralyzed and unable to cope on their own. Everyone experiences anxiety at certain times in their lives, but if your anxiety is holding you back and preventing you from living the life you want, it’s a good idea to seek help.
Do I have to be "suffering enough" to seek help?
No. You don’t need a diagnosis or to be in a crisis to go to therapy—many people seek help to feel better in their daily lives, understand themselves better, or cope with a difficult period. Seeking help early on is rarely a bad idea. A diagnosis serves as a guide and is required, for example, to qualify for Kela-funded therapy or for an insurance company to approve your sessions; however, in therapy, the focus is still on addressing what’s holding you back, regardless of whether you have a diagnosis or not. Many people who reach out don’t know why they’re feeling down but need help pinpointing what’s bothering them in life.
Is it strange or embarrassing to go to therapy?
No, talking to a psychotherapist is just as natural as seeking help for a physical problem. It’s common, and you don’t need to feel ashamed for wanting to feel better. As recently as 20 years ago, many people viewed it as shameful, but today few people think that way. Nowadays, parents encourage their children to talk to outside professionals and have a positive attitude toward therapy. A common issue that many people seek help for is anxiety, and together we try to find solutions to help you overcome it, whether it takes the form of social anxiety or a specific phobia.
How long should psychotherapy or counseling last?
Shorter social interactions are more common in depression and various anxiety disorders, such as social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), or specific phobias.
For diagnoses of neuropsychiatric disorders, bipolar disorder type 1 or 2, and psychotic disorders, it is common to have a longer-term relationship with a healthcare provider, since it takes time to learn to manage the condition in everyday life.
What is the difference between a psychotherapist and a therapist?
Anyone can use the title “therapist” because it is not a protected professional title. However, to use the protected professional title “Psychotherapist,” one’s degree must be approved by the National Authority for Licensing and Supervision (formerly Valvira). You can find a list of all approved Finnish psychotherapists here in the JulkkiTerhikki registry.
A visit to an unlicensed practitioner—also known as a therapist—means that, as a client, you are not protected by health care laws.
Psychotherapy for Swedish-speaking individuals
from all over Finland, in person in Mariehamn or online
The Various Forms of Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is an umbrella term for many different forms of therapy.
As a psychotherapist, one works within various psychotherapeutic approaches depending on the focus of the accredited training program one completed. These may include, for example:
CBT — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
family therapy
solution-focused, psychodynamic, or cognitive-analytic psychotherapy
I work with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a psychotherapeutic method with a very strong scientific foundation. Here you can read more about the techniques that make up CBT.
For those seeking KELA therapy , the most common recommendation is individual therapy using CBT.
Parenting Guidance
In addition to individual therapy, I also offer parent counseling to guardians whose children are undergoing rehabilitative psychotherapy. As a guardian, you are entitled to parent counseling with a KELA tax deduction until the year your child turns 26, provided your child is receiving individual treatment as part of rehabilitative psychotherapy (KELA therapy). Parenting counseling is a valuable complement for guardians who need support in setting expectations and establishing boundaries for their child who is struggling with mental health issues. In parenting counseling, you as a parent have a space to discuss the concerns that come with having a child who is struggling. Parenting counseling is, by its nature, more advisory in nature.
I strongly recommend that you, as a parent or guardian, take advantage of this resource to learn strategies for managing and understanding your child’s illness and the challenges associated with it.
It is recommended that the guardian not have the same therapist but rather their own point of contact—while maintaining a collaborative relationship—so that they can discuss their own concerns with a professional.
Couples Therapy
Are you and your partner facing challenges in your relationship that you’d like to discuss with a third party? Even within CBT, there are methods to help couples who, for various reasons, need support in their relationship so they can move forward.
A common reason couples reach out is when a child or one of the partners is struggling with mental health issues. In such cases, we work together to find ways to reconnect and establish a common ground in everyday life.
Family Therapy
I do not personally offer psychotherapy with a family therapy focus, but if your psychiatrist has recommended family therapy, I can in turn recommend the following psychotherapists: Maria Sundblom-Lindberg or Maria Hajo , both of whom have their offices in Helsinki.
Do you need counseling but don't have a referral?
With me,you can book a free initial consultation and together we can discuss which type of care is best for you. If the issue you’re seeking help with isn’t within my area of expertise,I’ll refer you directly to the appropriate professional.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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The number of sessions you have with a psychotherapist varies greatly from person to person. Generally speaking, if you work on your challenges between sessions, you tend to have far fewer sessions than if you come solely to “get things off your chest.” There is no evidence that simply talking leads to change; rather, it is the work you do between sessions that brings about change and affects the number of sessions.
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I'm used to dealing with all kinds of problems, and nothing is too big or too small. It's always best to get in touch as early as possible so that the problems don't start to affect your daily life too much.
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If you’ve been feeling down, anxious, or “disconnected from yourself” for an extended period of time, have trouble sleeping or concentrating, or feel like you’re going in circles with the same thoughts, these are signs that should be taken seriously. In that case, it might be helpful to talk to a professional who can help you sort through your thoughts and give you exercises to practice dealing with your challenges in a new way.
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Anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and neuropsychiatric disorders, among others, are conditions that typically require longer treatment periods.
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No. An initial conversation or inquiry doesn't mean you're committing to anything. We'll discuss what you need, and then you can decide for yourself if you want to move forward.
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I welcome anyone who needs counseling, regardless of the nature of their difficulties. You do not need a referral; you are welcome to contact us directly (LINK!). I offer a free initial consultation (30 minutes) during which we assess your care needs, and if necessary, I will refer you to another professional.
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If you have health insurance, you should always check with your claims adjuster to see if it covers psychotherapy. If it does, you will generally need a doctor’s note from a general practitioner, which you must submit to your insurance company before beginning psychotherapy with me. Also find out if you have any deductible, how many sessions you’re entitled to, if there’s a cost cap, and if you’ll need a new doctor’s referral after a certain period of time. Keep in mind that even policies from the same insurance company may have different terms depending on when they were purchased.
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Yes, you’re always welcome to contact me, with or without a payment authorization. If your local welfare authority does not meet the care guarantee—for example, regarding waiting lists or care in your native language—you can always request a payment authorization from us. In that case, it’s worth being clear and not giving up. The healthcare district often tends to refer patients to care within the district even when language requirements aren’t met. If you’re eligible for a Palse service voucher from HUS, you can use it with me.
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If you are at least 16 years old, are registered as a resident in Finland, and have a B-certificate, you may be eligible for rehabilitative psychotherapy. You can obtain a B-certificate after having been in contact with a psychiatrist for at least three months. A psychiatrist in private practice can also issue a B-certificate for rehabilitative psychotherapy. I’d be happy to help you fill out the forms and guide you through the process.