Sandra Koivurinta

The first steps of finding and meeting a therapist can involve a lot of work. You can read more about me and my way of working below. You are also welcome to send me a message. Please do reach out to arrange an initial phone call or consultation if anything resonates with you, so that we can discuss whether we may be able to work together. 

I have experience and interest in working with: Anger, Anxiety, Low mood, Dissociation, Suicidal Ideation, Body Image, Identity and Cultural issues, Domestic Abuse, Childhood issues, and Complex, Developmental and Attachment Trauma. I am particularly passionate about supporting children, young people, and parents/carers in accessing mental health services and support.

I offer counselling and psychotherapy, integrating psychodynamic theory with systemic, somatic and creative approaches. This means exploring what may lie beneath difficulties and repeating patterns, gaining understanding of your way of being, working through emotionally evocative experiences, and slowly learning alternative ways of relating to yourself, others, and the wider world. 

At the beginning, we will reflect on what brought you to therapy and what you are hoping to gain. We may look at what is driving the repetition of patterns and the subtle shifts when this is brought into awareness. We might explore how life stories and experiences have left their marks. With time, your hopes and goals may change, and we would collaborate on adapting the approach along the way, exploring different ways of working to match your evolving needs. 

My background 

I was born in Finland, and have worked and studied across continents; with children, young people, and their families since 2010, and adults since 2016, within education, mental health, and social care. I am currently working within the third sector, with psychotherapeutic support for children and young people (aged +10), and further education in psychotherapy and counselling training for adults. 

I hold the following qualifications:

• Doctorate of Psychotherapy and Counselling, University of Edinburgh 

• Master of Science in International Relations, University of Edinburgh

• Bachelor of Social Work, Lund University

• Postqualifying diploma in Psychotherapy (Children & Adolescents), UKCP-accredited 

• Postgraduate diploma in Counselling (Adults), COSCA-validated 

• Certificate in Clinical Supervision, UKCP-accredited

• Certificate in Academic Practice, Associate Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy

• Additional training in: Emotionally-focused Family Therapy, Mentalisation-based Family Treatment, Neurodivergence-Affirming Practice, Suicidal Ideation, Body image, Group Work, Somatic Trauma Therapy, and more. 

You might feel lost, stuck, numb, or in a loop of self-criticism. You might not know why or what feels wrong, but that you want something to be different. It can feel very exposing to take the first steps in meeting a stranger, sharing what it is like to be you; especially, if you are not clear how - or even if - things will change. If you are uncertain about or have had previous difficulties in therapy, we will look at what you would find useful this time, so that we can create a space where you feel able to be yourself. 

I will work with what you bring, whether you are healing from past experiences, finding your way through relationship challenges, navigating ongoing transitions, or longing to feel more alive and connected. We will take things at your pace and focus on what feels important for you, uncovering patterns, connecting to feelings, and opening up for possibilities to engage with life in a more grounded and meaningful way. 

You do not need to have answers - all I ask is for a willingness to show up as you are. I offer a time where you can bring all the messy, painful, frightening, or confusing parts of yourself and your life stories. We will honour the many ways of communicating and may reach new insights by processing and thinking out loud. We can also use what can be called ’somatic’ and ‘creative’ methods to work through whatever is going on for you, or make links between your emotional wellbeing, relationships, and the wider environment in which you live. 

If this resonates, please get in touch with any questions or to arrange an initial discussion to see if we are a ’good fit’ and able to work together.

In the first instance, we can arrange a brief introductory call so that you can make an informed decision about your next steps and ask any questions you may have. This would also be an opportunity to discuss your situation, needs, hopes, and goals for therapy, and if I may be able to support. If we decide to go ahead with an initial meeting, this will take place at a mutually agreeable time when we would explore your background in more detail. 

If you are under 16, the initial call tends to be held with a parent/carer where some background would be discussed, before determining a way forward.

I strive to create a space that is inclusive, culturally sensitive, and affirming of identities. I welcome contact from people of all ages and backgrounds.

I offer both online and in-person sessions. Feel free to get in touch so we can explore how supervision might support your work. 

I hold a Certificate in Clinical Supervision and I am working towards a UKCP-accredited Diploma in Supervision. Concessionary rates are available for supervision in recognition of this. 

I offer supervision to therapists, counsellors, and practitioners working with children and young people. My integrative approach draws from psychodynamic, creative, somatic, and systemic models, supporting reflection on feminist and ethical practice across a variety of settings.

Supervision will be collaborative and relationship-centered. I provide a space to explore clinical material, emotional dynamics, and the wider environmental, social, institutional, cultural, and political factors that influence therapeutic work. 

Sessions aim to support reflection, professional development, and ethical practice.