Academic Interests
-
Psychotherapy
-
Exploring psychotherapy process with the use of qualitative methods
-
Case studies
-
Psychotherapy integration
-
Developing qualitative research methods
Teaching
PSYC4400 – Forpraksis voksne. Relasjonskompetanse.
PSYC5410 – Hovedpraksis og etikk
PSYC4301 – Psykologisk behandling og behandlingsforskning
PSY9195 – The Qualitative Research Process – Analysis and Result Presentation
Employment history
Graduated as a psychologist from the University of Oslo in 1997, and is qualified as specialist in clinical psychology and intensive psychotherapy of the Norwegian Psychological Association. Postgraduate education in psychotherapy from Institute for psychotherapy and Institute for active psychotherapy. Has worked in public mental health care and has experience from clinical work with adults, adolescence, children, couples, and families in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Engaged in research on various aspects of psychotherapy processes. Finished PhD in 2011 with the thesis “Relational development in psychotherapy from beginning to end: Connecting structural and interpersonal aspects of psychotherapy”. Teaches courses on psychological treatment and runs a part time psychotherapy practice.
Research and cooperation
Leads the research project “The Art and Science of Conducting Psychotherapy – how collaborative action between client and therapist generates and sustains productive life change”. The project is developed together with Professor Christian Moltu, Helse-Vest/Vestlandet University College, and Professor John McLeod, University of Abertay, Dundee, Scotland. Link to some of the results from this project (see also publications below): How Being a Therapist Can Impact Your Personal Life | Psychology Today “A burden and a privilege” – clinical psychologists look back on their life’s work | BPS “A Burden and a Privilege” – Clinical Psychologists Look Back on Their Life’s Work - Mad In America Overføring | Framsyningar | Det Norske Teatret
Takes part in several projects, for example “An intensive process-outcome study of the interpersonal aspects of psychotherapy”, led by Associate Professor Margrethe Seeger Halvorsen (initiative and previously leadership by Professor Helge Rønnestad) at the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo. Her PhD was an independent project within this larger project. She cooperates closely with researchers in this project.
Has supervised / supervises the following PhD-Projects:
Ida Stange Bernhardt: The Significance of Therapists’ Personal Experiences and Qualities (graduated in 2020).
Kristine Dahl Sørensen: Managing life and change when diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder: A qualitative inquiry (graduated in 2020).
Henrik Wang-Iversen: Narratives about recovery: A qualitative study about turning-points for mental health patients with a history of recurring hospitalizations (co-supervisor, cooperation with University of Tromsø)
Anita Myhre: Long-term and multidisciplinary treatment pathways: Experiences among patients and families affected by a congenital craniofacial anomaly (co-supervisor, cooperation with Centre for Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital)
Anette Stamland Solvi: Foster parents’ subjective experience of the caregiving role and attachment - a qualitative exploratory study (co-supervisor, cooperation with University of South-East Norway).
Award
2017: Price in Memory of Bjørn Christiansen for a significant academic contribution (Distributed by the Norwegian Psychological Association)
Administrative duties
Board member of research committee in Institute for Psychotherapy.
Member of the appeal committee of the Norwegian Psychological Association (approval of specialists)
Part of Editoral Board in Psychotherapy Research (Routledge) and Counselling Psychology Quarterly (Taylor & Francis).