About Jonna
Hi! My name is Jonna, and I am a Personal Assistant at Expat Psychologists in the Netherlands. I speak English and Finnish fluently, and I have a high-level in Dutch and Russian. As a Finnish-Russian who was born and raised in Finland, I have now called the Netherlands home for the past three years.
I am a third-year Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience (BSc) student at the University of Amsterdam, bringing both a personal and academic understanding of the expat experience. During my studies, I have served as the treasurer and vice-chair of the study association of psychology students at the UvA. One of my tasks was to support international students with their landing in Amsterdam, student life and academics, including how to deal with loneliness, a common struggle many expats share.
My passion lies in supporting individuals on their journey to mental well-being, particularly those dealing with depression, trauma, and ADHD. I am deeply interested in how evidence-based therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Schema Therapy, and EMDR can relieve suffering by reducing the emotional impact of past experiences while also leading to a more meaningfully lived life. I am also fascinated by the intersection of forensic psychology and trauma therapy, and how integrating neuroscience into these fields can lead to better treatment outcomes.
“Truth is relative to the point of view from which it is perceived. What I look as and where I look from determine my perception of truth. Everyone, from their viewpoint, is seeing truth.
– Palmer
My ultimate goal, both in my studies and my work here, is to help people overcome their mental health challenges and guide them toward living a meaningful life aligned with their values and desires.
Outside of my studies and work, I have been a dancer for 16 years, practicing contemporary dance and ballet. For me, dance is a form of self-expression, a way to communicate feelings that can be difficult to put into words. I believe that hobbies are important components of a joyful and meaningful life. Building a stronger mental health does not only consist of decreasing the struggles but also of enhancing your strengths.
I am incredibly excited to be part of the Expat Psychologists team and look forward to supporting both the practitioners and our clients in any way I can.
