Therapy in Turku: A Guide to Finding a Therapist in Southwest Finland
Turku is the centre of Southwest Finland and Finland's sixth-largest city. With approximately 200,000 inhabitants, the city has a vibrant university and cultural life, and a diverse range of mental health services. Turku is also historically significant: Finland's oldest city has long been a pioneer in healthcare and education. In this guide, we cover how to find the right therapist in Turku and what options are available to you.
Turku's Therapy Landscape
Turku is a strong university and healthcare city. The University of Turku and Åbo Akademi train psychologists and other mental health professionals, reflected in the region's high level of expertise. Tyks, the Turku University Hospital psychiatric unit, is one of Finland's leading facilities and conducts significant research in mental health.
The city is home to dozens of private psychotherapists and psychologists. A wide range of therapy approaches are available: cognitive behavioural therapy, psychodynamic therapy, solution-focused therapy, integrative therapy, family therapy, trauma therapy, and many others. More specialised forms such as schema therapy and psychophysical therapy are also available.
Turku also has the advantage of Swedish-speaking therapists, thanks to the influence of Åbo Akademi. This makes seeking help easier for Swedish-speaking residents. English-language services are also available thanks to the international university community.
How to Find a Therapist in Turku
A good starting point is to think about what kind of help you need and what type of therapy might benefit you most. If you're not sure, that's fine: a therapist can help you work out your situation. Here are some ways to find a therapist in Turku:
Doctor's recommendation: Your GP knows the services in your area and can refer you to a suitable therapist. This is a good option especially if you also need medication.
Southwest Finland wellbeing services county: Public mental health services can assess your situation and guide you to the right treatment. Through a health centre, you can get a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist.
University and student services: FSHS offers mental health services for students at the University of Turku and Åbo Akademi. These services are affordable and easily accessible.
Occupational healthcare: A fast and often free route to help for working people.
Once you've found an interesting therapist, don't hesitate to reach out and ask about an introductory session. The first meeting is an opportunity to assess whether the collaboration feels natural. A good therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors affecting treatment outcomes.
Therapy Costs in Turku
Private psychotherapy in Turku typically costs 80–110 euros per session. The price level is similar to other mid-sized Finnish cities and slightly more affordable than Helsinki. Couples and family therapy are usually 100–150 euros per session due to longer session times.
Remember that therapy is an investment in your health and wellbeing. Many people consider therapy one of the best decisions they've made, as its benefits extend to all areas of life: work, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Kela Rehabilitative Psychotherapy in Turku
Kela's rehabilitative psychotherapy is available in Turku under the same conditions as elsewhere in Finland. Depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health conditions are the most common grounds for approval.
Kela's rehabilitative psychotherapy is available to people aged 16 to 67 whose ability to work or study is threatened by a mental health disorder. You must have been in appropriate care for at least 3 months, and a psychiatrist must have written you a B statement (B-lausunto). Kela covers up to 80 sessions per year and up to 200 sessions over three years. The reimbursement for individual therapy is 57.60 euros per session, and you pay the rest yourself. The therapist must be a Kela-approved provider, so check the therapist's eligibility in advance. Current conditions and reimbursement amounts are at kela.fi.
Turku has several Kela-approved therapists, so there are options available. Kela support significantly reduces your out-of-pocket costs, and therapy typically lasts 1–3 years with sessions once per week.
Important note: the Kela process can take several weeks. Don't let this prevent you from seeking help. You can start treatment at your own expense or through the public sector while your Kela application is pending.
Turku's Public Mental Health Services
The Southwest Finland wellbeing services county offers mental health services through health centres. You can book an appointment with a doctor who will assess your situation and can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist. Health centre psychologists can provide brief therapy over a few sessions.
Tyks psychiatric outpatient clinic provides specialised care for those needing more comprehensive treatment. Tyks' psychiatric expertise is internationally recognised, with significant research into depression and anxiety disorder treatment.
Low-threshold services also operate in Turku that you can access without a referral. The City of Turku and local organisations offer peer support, group activities, and counselling to support mental health.
Online Therapy as an Alternative
If you can't find a suitable therapist in Turku or want a wider selection, online therapy opens up all of Finland's offerings. You can work with a therapist via video call regardless of their location. Online therapy is proven to be as effective as face-to-face therapy in most situations and is a convenient option for a busy schedule.
The First Step Towards Getting Help
Seeking help requires courage, and it is one of the most important steps you can take for your own wellbeing. Turku has good conditions for finding a quality therapist who can help you: whether it's anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life changes, or any other mental health matter.
Where to find a therapist
You can look for a therapist in several places:
- Search services run by the Finnish Psychological Association (Psykologiliitto) and professional bodies.
- Kela's service provider search, if you are applying for rehabilitative psychotherapy (only Kela-approved therapists qualify for reimbursement).
- The Valitse Terapia service and other directories.
- Your own health centre, occupational health service or student health service (YTHS), which can refer you onward.
You can contact several therapists and see with whom the collaboration feels natural.
Get help in a crisis now
If you are having thoughts of self-harm or are otherwise in an acute crisis, you do not have to face it alone.
- In an emergency, call 112.
- MIELI Mental Health Finland crisis line: 09 2525 0113 (English and Arabic), 09 2525 0111 (Finnish), 09 2525 0112 (Swedish).
- For under-29s: Sekasin chat (sekasin.fi).
Help is available anonymously, and you do not need to be sure your situation is serious enough.
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