Willful strikes is as implemented, and intended straight knockback effect. While a mentally powered telekenitic push away is within its flavor and theme, why not change it so it has a directed knock effect?
Players could use it to bring monsters into melee through their creeping dark- for example through darkness between an archer and the player and then knock him to him to engage with gestures.
I'm sure it'd be used to knock monsters alongside that side hallway more often though. But as for it as a telekinetic strike, it fully matches the flavor to be able to direct the direction. I'm sure there are a few other knock 'back' effects that could benefit from opening that mechanic up to experiment with.
P.S. fears rework please before final release!
