Margrethe Seeger Halvorsen

Associate Professor - Clinical Psychology
Image of Margrethe Seeger Halvorsen
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Phone +47 22845205
Room S02-17
Available hours By agreement
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Visiting address Forskningsveien 3A Harald Schjelderups hus 0373 Oslo
Postal address Postboks 1094 Blindern 0317 Oslo

Academic Interests

I am interested in psychotherapy research and how this research can be made relevant to clinical practice. My primary interest is in the relationship between process and outcome in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy research over the past 50 years has shown that the most consistent relationship between process and outcome in psychotherapy is to be found in aspects of the interaction between client and therapist. These aspects are often defined as the therapeutic working alliance. An important field of research to improve the effect of psychotherapy, as well as to reduce dropout, is therefore to focus on how a good working alliance is created and maintained in therapy.

I am head of the research project POET (Studies of Process and Outcome in psychotherapies with Experienced Therapists) at the Department of Psychology, UiO. The main purpose of this project is to investigate how experienced psychotherapists establish and maintain working alliances with their clients, and how any ruptures in the relationship are repaired. The participants in this study are experienced psychotherapists who have both extensive clinical experience and have been involved in professional development and teaching, as well as adult clients who have sought outpatient treatment. Together with collogues, I have published works on different aspects of process, outcome, method, and expertise in psychotherapy. 

I am also interested in mind-body interactions in mental health and psychotherapeutic work. This includes clinical experience and involvement in research projects on eating disorders, self-harm and trauma, as well as interventions as yoga, mindfulness, physical activity and the use of nature and “friluftsliv”.

Teaching

PSYC2302: http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/sv/psykologi/PSYC2302/

PSYC2210: http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/sv/psykologi/PSYC2210/

PSYC4301: http://www.uio.no/studier/emner/sv/psykologi/PSYC4301/

PSYC6310: https://www.uio.no/studier/emner/sv/psykologi/PSYC6310/

Higher education and employment history

  • My academic training includes social anthropology, history of religion, developing studies and psychology.

  • I graduated as Cand. psychol. from the University of Tromsø in 2001. 

  • Dr. Psychol. (PhD in clinical psychology) from the University of Oslo (2006)

  • Specialist in adult clinical psychology (2012). 

  • Since I graduated, I have worked in parallel as a clinician and researcher. For many years I worked part time as a consultant clinical psychologist at Vinderen outpatient clinic, Diakonhjemmet hospital, Oslo (2008-2023). I am now employed as an Associate professor at the Department of Psychology, UiO and works part time as a clinical psychologist in private practice. I am also engaged as supervisor at Institute for Active Psychotherapy (IAP).

Supervision of PhD-candidates

Completed:

  • Co-supervisor for Hilda Sønsterud (STATPED/ PSI, UiO) on the project: “Stuttering therapy: What works for whom? Minding the body in speech—a multifaceted, individual approach to stuttering therapy”

Ongoing:

  • Main supervisor for Ingunn Holbæk (Modum Bad/PSI, UiO) on the project: “Living with dissociative disorder. Experiences of treatment and change”
  • Main supervisor for Kari Evelin Arellano Lorentzen (PSI, UiO) on the project: “Minds in motion - Yoga for patients with complex trauma experiences”
  • Co-supervisor for Lillan Halsaa (Innlandet Hospital Trust) on the project: “Family based treatment for child and adolescent eating disorders: How can we improve treatment?”

Awards

  • Årets hovedoppgave 2001. [Master Thesis of the year, 2001]. University of Tromsø

  • Årets doktorgrad 2007. [Doctoral dissertation of the year, 2007]. The Norwegian Psychological Association (NPF)

Cooperation

I collaborate closely with several colleagues at the Section for clinical psychology at the Department of Psychology, UiO, i.e., Hanne Weie Oddli, Erik Stänicke, Helene Nissen-Lie, Marit Råbu, and Line Stänicke. At the department I am involved in several research groups, i.e., POET, DRIVE, NORTRAS, and Quali-LAB. Outside the University of Oslo, I am involved in a research group on eating disorders (PROUD) and collaborates with a research group on the disclosure of child sexual abuse led by Professor Signe Hjelen Stige at the University of Bergen. I also collaborate with a research group at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences researching “friluftsliv” and mental health. I am involved in two PhD projects on medication free treatment, one with PhD candidate Kari Standal at Ahus Hospital Trust, and one with PhD candidate Elisabeth Klæbo Reitan at University of Tromsø/ University Hospital of Northern-Norway.

 

Tags: Clinical psychology

Publications

  • Standal, Kari; Solbakken, Ole Andre; Rugkåsa, Jorun; Halvorsen, Margrethe Seeger; Abbass, Allan & Wirsching, Christopher [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2024). Medication-Free Treatment in Mental Health Care How Does It Differ from Traditional Treatment? Patient Preference and Adherence. ISSN 1177-889X. 18, p. 315–335. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S435610.
  • Stänicke, Line Indrevoll; Hermansen, Marte Hjertås & Halvorsen, Margrethe Seeger (2022). A transitional object for relatedness and self-development—A meta-synthesis of youths' experience of engagement in self-harm content online. Child & Family Social Work. ISSN 1356-7500. doi: 10.1111/cfs.13058.
  • Oddli, Hanne Berit Weie; Stänicke, Erik; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Lindstad, Tobias Gustum (2022). Causality in psychotherapy research: Towards evidential pluralism. Psychotherapy Research. ISSN 1050-3307. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2022.2161433.
  • Stige, Signe Hjelen; Andersen, Ann Christin; Halvorsen, Jorunn; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Binder, Per-Einar & Måkestad, Elida [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Possible paths to increase detection of child sexual abuse in child and adolescent psychiatry: a meta-synthesis of survivors’ and health professionals’ experiences of addressing child sexual abuse. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. ISSN 1748-2623. 17(1), p. 1–27. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2022.2103934. Full text in Research Archive
  • Standal, Kari; Solbakken, Ole Andre; Rugkåsa, Jorun; Martinsen, Astrid Ringen; Halvorsen, Margrethe Seeger & Abbass, Allan [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Why service users choose medication-free psychiatric treatment: A mixed-method study of user accounts. Patient Preference and Adherence. ISSN 1177-889X. 15, p. 1647–1660. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S308151.
  • Oddli, Hanne; Mcleod, John; Nissen-Lie, Helene Amundsen ; Rønnestad, Michael Helge & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2021). Future orientation in successful therapies: Expanding the concept of goal in the working alliance. Journal of Clinical Psychology. ISSN 0021-9762. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23108.
  • Sønsterud, Hilda; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Kirmess, Melanie & Ward, David (2020). What works for whom? Multidimensional individualized stuttering therapy (MIST). Journal of Communication Disorders. ISSN 0021-9924. 88:106052, p. 1–20. doi: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2020.106052. Full text in Research Archive
  • Sønsterud, Hilda; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Kirmess, Melanie; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Ward, David (2019). What do people search for in stuttering therapy: Personal goal-setting as a gold standard? Journal of Communication Disorders. ISSN 0021-9924. p. 1–15. doi: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2019.105944. Full text in Research Archive
  • Sønsterud, Hilda; Kirmess, Melanie; Howells, Kirsten; Ward, David; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2019). The working alliance in stuttering treatment: a neglected variable? International journal of language and communication disorders. ISSN 1368-2822. p. 1–14. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12465. Full text in Research Archive
  • Fjermestad, Krister; Rø, Annika Elisabet; Espeland, Karen Elise; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Halvorsen, Inger (2019). “Do I exist in this world, really, or is it just her?” Youths’ perspectives of living with a sibling with anorexia nervosa. Eating Disorders. ISSN 1064-0266. 28(1), p. 80–95. doi: 10.1080/10640266.2019.1573046. Full text in Research Archive
  • von der Lippe, Anna Louise ; Oddli, Hanne & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2019). Therapist strategies early in therapy associated with good or poor outcomes among clients with low proactive agency. Psychotherapy Research. ISSN 1050-3307. 29(3), p. 383–402. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2017.1373205.
  • Rønnestad, Michael Helge; Nissen-Lie, Helene A; Oddli, Hanne; Benum, Kirsten; Ekroll, Vidar Blokhus & Gullestad, Siri Erika [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2018). Expanding the Conceptualization of Outcome and Clinical Effectiveness. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. ISSN 0022-0116. 49, p. 87–97. doi: 10.1007/s10879-018-9405-z.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Benum, Kirsten; Oddli, Hanne; Stänicke, Erik & Mcleod, John (2017). How Usual is Treatment as Usual? Experienced Therapists’ Reflections on Participation in Practice-based Research. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. ISSN 0951-5070. doi: 10.1080/09515070.2017.1397502. Full text in Research Archive
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Mcleod, John; Benum, Kirsten & Haavind, Hanne (2016). Response to Commentaries on A Life-Saving Therapy: The Theory-Building Case of "Cora": Conceptualizing the Complexity of Change in Psychotherapy: The Case of “Cora”. Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy. ISSN 1553-0124. 12(3), p. 224–237. doi: 10.14713/pcsp.v12i3.1979.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Benum, Kirsten; Haavind, Hanne & Mcleod, John (2016). A Life-Saving Therapy: The Theory-Building Case of "Cora". Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy. ISSN 1553-0124. 12(3), p. 158–193. doi: 10.14713/pcsp.v12i3.1975.
  • Stige, Signe Hjelen & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2016). From cumulative strain to available resources: A case study of the potential effects of new trauma on recovery. Illness, Crisis and Loss. ISSN 1054-1373. 26(4), p. 270–292. doi: 10.1177/1054137316664177.
  • Oddli, Hanne; Nissen-Lie, Helene A & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2016). Common therapeutic change principles as "sensitizing concepts": A key perspective in psychotherapy integration and clinical research. Journal of psychotherapy integration. ISSN 1053-0479. doi: 10.1037/int0000033.
  • Oddli, Hanne & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2014). Experienced Psychotherapists’ Reports of Their Assessments, Predictions, and Decision Making in the Early Phase of Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy. ISSN 0033-3204. 51(2), p. 295–307. doi: 10.1037/a0029843.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2014). Kampen for tilværelsen. Refleksjoner fra en terapeut og terapiforsker i isødet. In von der Lippe, Anna Louise; Nissen-Lie, Helene A & Oddli, Hanne (Ed.), Psykoterapeuten. En antologi om terapeutens rolle i psykoterapi. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 9788205472136. p. 307–317.
  • Benum, Kirsten & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2013). Terapeuten som emosjonelt anker. In Benum, Kirsten; Axelsen, Eva & Hartmann, Ellen Johanne (Ed.), God Psykoterapi: Et Integrativt Perspektiv. Pax Forlag. ISSN 978-82-530-3598-7. p. 219–246.
  • Råbu, Marit; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Haavind, Hanne (2011). Early relationship struggles: A case study of alliance formation and reparation. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. ISSN 1473-3145. 11(1), p. 23–33. doi: 10.1080/14733145.2011.546073. Full text in Research Archive
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe Seeger & Monsen, Jon Trygve (2007). Self-image as a moderator of change in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy Research. ISSN 1050-3307. 17(2), p. 205–217. doi: 10.1080/10503300600608363.
  • Monsen, Jon T.; von der Lippe, Anna Louise; Lippe, Anna Louise von der; Havik, Odd E.; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Eilertsen, Dag E. (2007). Validation of the SASB introject surface in a Norwegian clinical and nonclinical sample. Journal of Personality Assessment. ISSN 0022-3891. 88(2), p. 235–245.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe Seeger; Hagtvet, Knut Arne & Monsen, Jon Trygve (2006). The reliability of self-image change scores in psychotherapy research: An application of generalizability theory. Psychotherapy. ISSN 0033-3204. 43, p. 308–321.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe Seeger & Joner, Andreas (1999). Oppvekst i lesbiske parforhold. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. ISSN 0332-6470. p. 514–522.

View all works in Cristin

  • Solbakken, Ole Andre; Nissen-Lie, Helene, Amundsen ; Oddli, Hanne Berit Weie; Råbu, Marit; Stänicke, Erik & Hagen, Roger [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Folkeopplysningens konklusjon er misvisende. . Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. ISSN 0332-6470. p. 1051–1052.
  • Oddli, Hanne Berit Weie; Nissen-Lie, Helene, Amundsen ; Hagen, Roger; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Råbu, Marit & Solbakken, Ole Andre [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Psykoterapi har god effekt – selv om NRK sår tvil. Morgenbladet. ISSN 0805-3847.
  • Ahlers, Imke; de Smet, Melissa; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Oddli, Hanne & von Below, Camilla (2018). The perks and hazards of qualitative research in the field of psychotherapy. Structured discussion.
  • Sønsterud, Hilda; Kirmess, Melanie; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Ward, David & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2018). Minding the body in speecy: Individualized therapy for adults who stutter.
  • Sønsterud, Hilda; Howells, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Ward, David & Kirmess, Melanie (2018). The importance of the working alliance in stuttering therapy: Client perceptions.
  • Sønsterud, Hilda; Kirmess, Melanie; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud & Ward, David (2018). Individualized therapy for adults who stutter: An evaluation on speech and avoidance behaviour.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2017). Uforsvarlig drift eller politisk maktspill? Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. ISSN 0332-6470. 54(12), p. 1200–1201.
  • Sønsterud, Hilda; Kirmess, Melanie; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud & Ward, David (2017). Individualized stuttering therapy for adults - what works for whom?
  • Sønsterud, Hilda; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Ward, David & Kirmess, Melanie (2017). What do people search for in stuttering therapy -personal goal-setting as a gold standard? Aim.
  • Sønsterud, Hilda; Howells, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Feragen, Kristin Judith Billaud; Ward, David & Kirmess, Melanie (2017). The working alliance in stuttering therapy: A neglected variable?
  • Oddli, Hanne; Nissen-Lie, Helene A; Mcleod, John; Rønnestad, Michael Helge & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2017). Goal consensus between client and therapist. A mixed-method study.
  • Andenæs, Agnes; Benum, Kirsten; Carlquist, Erik; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Hauge, Mona-Iren & Madsen, Ole Jacob [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2017). Sneversynt om psykologisk kunnskap. Morgenbladet. ISSN 0805-3847. 198(5), p. 28–29.
  • Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Oddli, Hanne; Øiestad, Guro & Mcleod, John (2016). The journey towards becoming an integrative psychotherapist: Teaching integration in as a perspective on theory, research and practice.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2015). Bedringens tap. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. ISSN 0332-6470. 8, p. 788–790.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Benum, Kirsten; Stänicke, Erik & Oddli, Hanne (2015). How usual is treatment as usual? Erfarne terapeuters refleksjoner over forskningsdeltagelse.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Benum, Kirsten; Stänicke, Erik & Oddli, Hanne (2015). How usual is treatment as usual? Experienced therapists’ reflections on research participation.
  • Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Oddli, Hanne & Stänicke, Erik (2015). En terapeut sine refleksjoner over en time med høyt nivå av Referential Activity.
  • Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Oddli, Hanne & Stänicke, Erik (2015). Hvordan jobber erfarne terapeuter i praksis? Kasusstudier som metode.
  • Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Oddli, Hanne & Stänicke, Erik (2015). The expert therapist reflecting on high Referential Activity (symbolization) in a session.
  • Stänicke, Erik; Oddli, Hanne; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Benum, Kirsten (2015). Psykoterapiforskningen støtter ikke pakkeforløp. Morgenbladet. ISSN 0805-3847.
  • Oddli, Hanne; Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Stänicke, Erik (2015). Klinisk ekspertise – hva er det og hvordan viser det seg i praksis? Analyser av ekspertterapeuter som klinikere, lærere og forskningsdeltakere.
  • Stänicke, Erik; Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Oddli, Hanne (2015). Timing som et aspekt ved terapeutisk ekspertise.
  • Stänicke, Erik; Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Oddli, Hanne (2015). Timing as an aspect of expertise.
  • Oddli, Hanne; Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Stänicke, Erik (2015). Expert therapists as clinicians and research participants.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2014). Ut-trette eller ut-rette? Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. ISSN 0332-6470. 12.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Benum, Kirsten; Haavind, Hanne; Von der Lippe, Anna Louise; Nissen-Lie, Helene A & Oddli, Hanne [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2014). How does alliance work develop in phases of psychotherapy?
  • Benum, Kirsten & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2013). The researcher, the therapist and the client: Integrating different voices in a case study of bond formation.
  • Oddli, Hanne & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2011). Experienced therapists’ reports of their assessments, predictions and decision-making in the early phase of psychotherapy.
  • Benum, Kirsten & Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2011). A life saving bond. When the therapeutic alliance is threatened by persistent suicidality.
  • Råbu, Marit; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Haavind, Hanne (2010). Early relationship struggles. A case study of alliance formation and reparation.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Rønnestad, Michael Helge; Von der Lippe, Anna Louise; Axelsen, Eva; Haavind, Hanne & Gullestad, Siri Erika [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2010). Convergence of alliance ratings in a sample of highly experienced teacher-therapists and their clients.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2007). Hvilken betydning har pasienters selvbilde for endring i psykoterapi?
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe Seeger (2003). Aspects of self-image and changes in psychotherapy.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe Seeger (2003). Self-image and changes in psychotherapy.
  • Oddli, Hanne; Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Rønnestad, Michael Helge (2014). Expertise demonstrated: What does it mean to be an expert psychotherapist? Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy, Div 29 of the American Psychological Association.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S. (2006). Self-Image and Psychotherapy: Measurement, Predictor and Outcome Issues. Unipub forlag.
  • Halvorsen, Margrethe S. & Joner, Andreas (2001). Lesbian families in Norway: A comparative study of child and family functioning in lesbian, single mother, and heterosexual families. UiT Norges arktiske universitet.

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Published Oct. 1, 2010 4:15 PM - Last modified Oct. 12, 2023 1:04 PM