About me

Who

I am Risto Niskanen, a psychiatric nurse, paramedic and student of solution-focused brief therapy. I live and my services are based in Hämeenlinna. During my nursing studies I specialised in acute mental health and substance abuse care, and I have several years of experience working in fast-paced emergency medical services as a paramedic.

My work history is diverse. Before entering the healthcare field, I worked in construction, transportation, sales and industry. I have been part of many different work communities, some of them highly encouraging and supportive, and others more demanding for well-being and resilience. These experiences have given me a broad understanding of people, work life and the different situations that shape everyday coping.

What

I help clients find practical ways to manage harmful emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. The focus is on identifying personal resources and strengths. Support is usually found quickly, and the aim is to keep the number of sessions limited. On average, clients benefit from 5–10 sessions, and sometimes even a single meeting is enough. My approach is integrative: I combine a solution-focused framework with methods from cognitive behavioral therapy to address the issues that are currently most relevant.

Why

I have seen in my own life and in my work as a paramedic that many people, in all kinds of life situations, are increasingly experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, exhaustion, loneliness and other challenges that reduce their quality of life. As a paramedic, the possibilities to truly help in these situations are very limited, which is why I decided to offer support through this company. Political decisions in recent years have also reduced access to mental health services, so I want to help address this need.