Kirsi Mäkiniemi

Couples and Crisis Therapist | Translator | Research Scientist

Social psychologist (MSocSci) | Biotech Scientist (MSc) | Vocational Teacher (SQ pedagogics)  

I have worked as a Research Scientist and a Senior Lecturer for more than 15 years, but I have also worked as a crisis worker. Nowadays, I work as an entrepreneur and help people towards a better everyday life. My own path of life has not been the most direct and ordinary route - it has included many achievements, but also renunciations and crises. And those crises and their solutions are interesting! Thanks to them, I think that as human beings, we are never ready or perfect, but still just good as who we are.

In my studies in social psychology at the University of Eastern Finland, I focused on love and relationship issues - I studied, among other things, what kind of perceptions middle-aged people have of love and relationships. In addition to my university studies, I have trained as a crisis support volunteer at MIELI ry (basic and advanced training for support volunteers and crisis helpers, Mental Health First Aid® 1 and 2) and worked as a crisis worker and volunteer at the MIELI Crisis Centre Kuopio.

I have acquired my couples therapy expertise from the Gottman Institute, where I have studied several training modules: Clinical Foundations in Gottman Method Couples Therapy: Level 1 and Level 2 basic and advanced training in couples therapy, Gottman Therapy Sessions training for clinical work, 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work Leader training for holding relationship workshops, and Gottman Treating Affairs and Trauma training to help with infidelity and PTSD crises.

As a therapist and coach, I welcome you as a unique person - you can be sure that you will be heard, with all the love. My "toolbox" includes methods for solving crises, knowing yourself and taking smaller steps towards better relationships.