Joanna Bunikowska
Psychological Counsellor & Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Counsellor
I’m a psychologist (MSc) trained in ACT, helping adults feeling stuck—overwhelmed, stressed, managing ADHD, or coping with trauma—build practical skills, find meaning and direction, and connect with what truly matters.
I specialise in:
About me
A LIFELONG CALLING TO HELP For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to people’s stories — to understanding, supporting, and being present with others in times of struggle. That calling first led me to humanitarian work in South Sudan, an experience that profoundly shaped how I see resilience, connection, and what it means to care for one another.
A PERSONAL TURNING POINT Later, something closer to home deepened that calling. A close family member was struggling with intense anxiety and found it hard to connect with their therapist. Over time, they began to open up to me instead. We had no formal tools — just honesty, patience, and presence. When they eventually said, “You should help others the way you helped me,” it stayed with me. That moment set me on the path to becoming a psychologist.
FINDING BALANCE IN NATURE Originally from Poland, I’ve now lived in Finland for over a decade. The forests of Eastern Finland have become a big part of how I recharge — a quiet, grounding space that reminds me to slow down and just be. I often draw from those moments in nature to stay connected with myself and with the work I do.
PASSION FOR EDUCATION AND SCIENCE Outside of therapy, I’m a university teacher and researcher. I strongly believe in the power of education and science. I’m naturally curious and enjoy exploring complex issues to gain deeper understanding. I bring that same attitude into therapy, believing that understanding how the human mind and brain work can meaningfully support the therapeutic process and change.
LIVING WITH ADHD On a more personal note, diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, I gained clarity on many challenges I had faced earlier in life. This experience enhanced my empathy and fuels my commitment to helping adults with ADHD develop clearer focus, kinder self-talk, and greater confidence.
I’m also dedicated to helping employers better understand and support neurodiverse employees, promoting inclusive workplaces.
SLIDING PRICE SCALE AVAILABLE I offer a limited number of sliding-scale sessions for clients experiencing financial constraints. If the standard fee feels difficult at the moment, please feel free to contact me to discuss options.
I speak:
Location:
Media Gallery
Approach
🌀 Why ACT?
ACT starts with a powerful idea:
You’re not broken — you’re stuck.
Stuck in anxious thoughts, rumination, harsh self-judgment, or trying to control painful emotions. These patterns keep you disconnected from what really matters.
ACT doesn’t try to “fix” you. Instead, it helps you:
Create space for uncomfortable thoughts and feelings
Stop the exhausting mental struggle
Reconnect with your values
Take meaningful action, even in the face of discomfort
If you’ve tried to “just calm down” or “stay positive” and it hasn’t worked — ACT offers a gentler, more sustainable way forward.
ACT helps you create space for difficult thoughts and feelings. It teaches accepting and accommodating them so you can stop fighting with your mind and start moving toward what really matters to you.
If you've been trying to “calm down,” “get over it,” or “just stay positive” — and it hasn’t worked — ACT offers another way: one that’s gentler, deeper, and more sustainable.
PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY
The main therapeutic process of ACT is developing psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility is the ability to notice your thoughts and identify your emotions that show up, and then make a conscious decision about how to respond.
Will you let your thoughts hook you and jerk you around? Will you engage into a battle with your emotions, trying to suppress or change them? Or, will you acknowledge those difficult thoughts and feelings just as they are, allow them to be and engage in what truly matters in the present moment?
ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance in ACT is directly involved in development of psychological flexibility. Acceptance means making space for things you can’t control. In ACT this refers to thoughts and feelings.
Acceptance is not about ignoring problems or pretending everything’s okay. Instead, it means letting tough emotions like anxiety or frustration be there—even when your mind gets stuck worrying.
Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up. It means accepting the hard stuff so you can move forward and live a life that feels right for you.
COMMITMENT
Once you learn how to accept your thoughts and feelings, you can engage in and commit to building the life you want for yourself. ACT’s objective is all about helping clients to live rich, meaningful, and fulfilling lives.
Commitment work in ACT focuses on exploring what truly matters to you and reconnecting with your deeply held values. In ACT, values are seen as an internal compass that guides us—shaping our behaviours and actions in the direction of the life we want to live and the person we want to become.
ACT for ADHD
ACT is a neurodiversity-affirming approach. This means I focus on strengths, abilities, and the unique ways each brain works, seeing neurodiversity as a difference — not a deficit.
At the same time, I support clients in navigating areas that can feel challenging — like managing focus and energy, regulating emotions, dealing with overwhelm, setting priorities, or following through on plans.
WHO ARE MY SESSIONS FOR?
I specialise in working with adults:
- experiencing anxiety,
- with ADHD (no need of formal diagnosis),
- facing difficulties in their careers, studies (i.e.,employees, managers, students) like stress, lack of motivation, burnout,
- feeling stuck in life or career and /or wanting to grow, develop, and implement change,
- looking for support through ACT.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE SESSIONS?
Safe, individual online sessions are held from my cozy corner — a warm, welcoming space in my home designed to help you feel comfortable and supported. My dog Pax as trusted companion.
During our time together:
- we will explore your expectations for the sessions and tailor them to meet your specific needs—whether that’s managing anxiety, navigating ADHD, making a career change, or addressing other personal goals,
- we will explore and reconnect with your deeply held values so they guide our work and support progress,
- you will learn and practice your psychological flexibility skills (unhooking from difficult thoughts and accepting emotional discomfort),
- you will learn how to be more present in your life, engaged in what truly matters.
Feel free to contact me to explore what our work could look like in your specific case.
ME AS YOUR ACT COUNSELLOR
As your ACT counsellor, I’m here to offer a warm, emphatic, and judgment-free and safe space where you can show up just as you are. As your ACT counsellor, I’m your teammate—supporting you throughout your journey.
Compassion and respect are at the heart of how I work — you don’t need to pretend, explain everything perfectly, or have it all figured out.
To make sure I offer the best support I can, I also work under regular professional supervision — it helps me grow and stay grounded in my work with you.
WHY CHOOSE ME?
- Heart-led, mindful approach
- Evidence-based effective tools with warmth and authenticity
- No judgment, no pressure
- Genuine support, real-life strategies
Experience
2025 - self-employed ACT practitioner 2022 - 2024 (psychology intern):
- Development and implementation of psycho-educational workshop sessions:
- Study Wellbeing 2004, peer support group
- Study Wellbeing 2003, peer support group
- Tomato Monday, study together sessions with psycho-education mini lectures
- Motivation Wednesday, online sessions;
- Supervised counselling for individual students
Education
I hold a master degree in psychology. I also completed postgraduate training in business psychology. My education is complemented by additional training in several therapeutic approaches—including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) as well as Brief Solution-Focused Therapy. ACT is the core framework that guides my counselling work.
2019-2024 - Psychologist, MA (Clinical and Psychology of personality specialty) - Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu-National Louis University 2024 - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy practitioner - Psychwire 2022-23 - Motivational Interviewing practitioner - Polish Institute of Motivational Dialogue 2022-2023 - Business psychologist (postgraduate training)- Wyzsza Szkola Biznesu-National Louis University 2022 - Brief Solution-Focused Therapy, basic level - Center of the Solution-Focused Therapy (Poland) 2013-present - Doctoral studies - University of Eastern Finland 2003-2008- International Relations, MA - University of Nicolaus Copernicus
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Individual Session
Insurances
