Jonna Paukkunen

Specialisations

• Sexuality

• Gender Identity

• Identity and Life Transitions

• Relationships

• Faith Deconstruction and Transition

Languages

• English

• Finnish

Methods

• Cognitive Behavioural (CBT)

• Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)

• Solution-Focused (SFT)

Therapy types

• Individual

• Couples

• EAP

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Introduction

Hi, I’m Jonna.

I’m originally from Finland and now call the Netherlands home. Moving between countries and cultures has made me think a lot about identity, belonging, and the different parts of ourselves we carry with us. I’ve always been curious about people and what lies underneath the way we think, feel, connect, and relate to ourselves and others.

I became a psychologist because I wanted to understand these things more deeply. Since graduating in 2020, I’ve worked with people navigating anxiety, stress, difficult relationships, and chronic health conditions. Along the way, I became especially interested in how closely our minds, bodies, relationships, and identities are connected.

That curiosity eventually led me to sex therapy. Sexuality, intimacy, gender, and relationships are such important parts of being human, yet they can also be some of the hardest things to talk about. I want to make those conversations feel a little easier; without shame, awkwardness, or judgement.

Faith and spirituality are also close to my heart. My own background has made me particularly interested in what happens when we begin questioning the beliefs we grew up with, or when our sexuality, identity, and values no longer fit neatly within them.

As a therapist, I’m warm, curious, and genuinely interested in getting to know the person in front of me. I won’t tell you who you should be or what choices you should make. Instead, we’ll explore things together, make sense of what you’re experiencing, and find a direction that feels right for you.

You don’t need to arrive with the right words or have everything figured out. We can start wherever you are.

About my approach

I don’t believe there is one way of doing therapy that works for everyone. We all come with different experiences, personalities, and needs, so I like to shape our work around you rather than trying to fit you into a particular method.

In practice, I draw from psychology and sexology, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Therapy. Sometimes we might look at patterns in the way you think, feel, or respond. Other times, we might focus on accepting difficult emotions, understanding yourself better, or finding small and practical ways to move towards the life you want.

I also tend to look at the bigger picture. With my background in health psychology, I’m interested in how our bodies, emotions, relationships, environment, and even spirituality can influence one another. I don’t think these parts of us exist separately.

When it comes to sexuality, relationships, gender, and identity, my approach is sex-positive, open-minded, and grounded in science. There are very few things you could bring into the room that would surprise me, and you don’t need to worry about saying the “right” thing.

Most importantly, I see you as the expert on your own life. I won’t pretend to have all the answers for you. My role is to listen, be curious, ask questions, and help you understand what is going on so that, together, we can find a way forward that genuinely feels like yours.