Psychotherapist Petra Berg
About Me
My name is Petra Berg, and I work at KBTterapi.ax. I hold a master’s degree in developmental psychology from Åbo Akademi University and later completed further training to become a psychotherapist specializing in CBT at the University of Eastern Finland. I have over 20 years of professional experience, first at the Developmental Disabilities Resource Center of Calgary in Canada, and subsequently back home in Finland. My time in Canada made me accustomed to working in English, so I am happy to welcome English-speaking clients.
I particularly enjoy working with clients from other cultures and have extensive experience working with people of different religions and on issues related to gender equality and diversity. LGBTQI+ issues are very close to my heart. In my free time, I enjoy being out in the woods and countryside; among other things, I have climbed Kilimanjaro and made it to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
My Approach as a Therapist
I work as a psychotherapist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for:
individuals (children / youth / adults)
couples and families
In addition, I'm used to:
give a lecture on mental health
provide guidance to healthcare professionals who need consultation regarding their client cases
provide guidance and consultation in the workplace on various issues related to mental health
Here you can read more about the different types of therapy I offer.
Confidentiality and Job Title
At my place, there is professional confidentiality, of course!
As a psychotherapist, my work is regulated by the Swedish Health and Social Care Inspectorate. My work as a psychotherapist is governed by general healthcare legislation, and in practice this means, among other things, that I am required to maintain patient records and that I use a digital record-keeping system called Diarium. The entries in these records are transferred from there to the national archive system, Kanta.
Just as with all other healthcare service providers, psychotherapy treatments are VAT-exempt services. The Patient Ombudsman is Josefin Walk-Stenman at the Åland Ombudsman’s Office, who can always be contacted if you feel that my conduct has been inappropriate in any way.
As my client, in addition to my services being VAT-exempt, you are also entitled to:
Rehabilitative psychotherapy/KELA therapy
to use your Palse voucher, which is valid within the HUS healthcare district
psychotherapy covered by your insurance company.
Option for a free 30-minute introductory consultation
There are many different forms of psychotherapy besides the one I offer (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT). As a client, it can be difficult to know which form of therapy is recommended for your specific diagnosis or diagnoses.
I am therefore offering a free 30-minute consultation during which I'll tell you more about how I work and what I recommend for you as a client.
What People Say About Petra
After 15 years of dermatillomania, I finally managed to overcome the compulsive behavior with Petra's help.
In addition to Petra’s CBT therapy, psychotropic medications, medicated skin creams, and a month of sick leave likely also contributed to my recovery—but they alone would not have been enough to cure my compulsive behavior. I know this because I had been using them for about three-quarters of a year before I began therapy.
Before starting therapy with Petra, I had also tried to get help from another CBT therapist and a psychologist. I had also tried, in countless ways, to cure myself. I read books on the subject, searched frantically for help and information online, and spent a lot of money on various skin care creams and cosmetic treatments. None of these helped.
"Petra clearly has the tools she needs to overcome dermatillomania. For the therapy to be effective, however, you’ll still need to work hard on your own and be prepared for life to be a little less comfortable for the next few months."
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— Client diagnosed with dermatrillomania
Petra and I worked together on my diagnosis for several years, and it has been easy to work together from the very beginning. I’ve appreciated that, especially in the beginning, we structured our sessions around practical tasks and reflection, with the help of books.
Over the years, we’ve explored several different topics that have helped me find a stable foundation for my own well-being. Learning to recognize the signs of changes in my well-being has been extremely important. Having started working with Petra during a difficult time, it’s incredible to see where I am today. I’m grateful to have had the support of such a professional and competent person as Petra!
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— Client with bipolar disorder
Petra in the Media
HBL: Nighttime therapy sessions conducted only in Finnish are illegal, says the Parliamentary Ombudsman—many Swedish-speaking patients pay 900 euros more to see a private practitioner
Video: Seminar on Children, Youth, and Online Pornography
Åland Radio: Spring Depression Affects Many
YLE: Psychotherapist: Human relationships suffer from constant connectivity — breaks from cell phones are needed
Newspaper Article: Internet Therapy in Swedish-Speaking Finland
(HBL, February 27, 2017)
YLE: Is your child watching online porn?
YLE: Major international study: Online cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in treating depression
Åland Radio • SUMMER CHAT 2020: Petra Berg — Hiking in Nepal