Laura Poikonen is a Master of Arts, Bachelor of Social Services and cognitive analytic psychotherapist trainee at the University of Helsinki. Laura has spent her career working with young adults who suffer from mental health and substance abuse history and are at risk of social exclusion. Laura has always been interested in human communication - how two separate individuals create an interaction, each in their own unique perspective.

Laura's psychotherapy training thesis “Using humour in cognitive analytic therapy” addresses this theme from the perspective of humor. It presents how humor can be an important element of interaction between therapist and patient, deepening the collaborative relationship in the therapeutic process and bringing into shared focus matters that might otherwise remain hidden.