Liia Kivela

About Liia

I am a Psychologist and a clinical researcher, currently finishing my PhD in Clinical Psychology at Leiden University. I was born and raised in Finland, but have since lived in Australia, the U.K., and the Netherlands. I completed my university studies graduating with a bachelor’s in Psychology and a master’s in Clinical and Health Psychology from Leiden University in 2019. As a 10+ year expat myself, I am also familiar with many of the struggles that internationals may face while living abroad, and hope to turn these insights into action steps within my work at Expat Psychologists.

I work with youth, adults and couples, and provide therapy in English and Finnish. I believe that every individual and their personal circumstances are different – therefore I also think that every therapy approach should be tailored to the individual, and should be based on ongoing collaboration with the therapist and the client. In my work, I use techniques from a number of evidence-based interventions, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MDSR), schema therapy, and others. Regardless of the specific techniques used, the most important thing for me will always be to foster a safe, open and accepting atmosphere where we can work together to address whatever is on your mind.

PhD in Clinical Psychology at Leiden University

Within my research work, I have specialised in topics related to depression and suicidality, as well as the intersection between sleep and mental health. Within my PhD, I worked with individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours, exploring how real-time symptom monitoring through new technologies may be used to better understand suicidal symptoms and their contributing factors. In addition to this, I have researched the role of sleep disturbances in depression and other mental disorders, and how sleep interventions may be used to alleviate and prevent mental health complaints. 

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)

While I work with clients with a range of different complaints, one of my special interests lies in the role of sleep in mental and physical well-being. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an intervention specifically designed to address the thoughts and behaviours that can cause and contribute to sleep issues. CBT-I works to regulate sleep and the circadian rhythm, establish healthier habits related to sleep, teach relaxation techniques, and address negative thoughts, beliefs and worry related to sleep problems. CBT-I is typically delivered over 4-6 sessions, but may also be used as an add-on treatment alongside other techniques when non-sleep related complaints are the main focus of treatment. 

In my free time, I enjoy traveling, cooking, and reading – I’m always interested in hearing people’s stories, whether that be in real life or in between the pages of a book.