PhD-project
During the pandemic, waiting times for psychological treatment increased substantially. Many individuals who could have benefited from treatment were required to wait for months before receiving care. Prolonged waiting periods for mental health services can be deeply distressing for those affected and may represent an inefficient use of resources from a societal perspective. Individuals awaiting treatment often experience a sustained reduction in quality of life, ongoing mental health difficulties, and in many cases worsening symptoms.
In the COPE research group, we investigate how brief digital therapy programs can reduce the burden of waiting for mental health care. Previous research indicates that very brief digital interventions (approximately 30 minutes), commonly referred to as single‑session interventions, can meaningfully reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The current project aims to identify which components such programs should include and which individuals are most likely to benefit from them. We develop and evaluate single‑session interventions for patients experiencing different mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Using ecological momentary assessment methods, participants provide frequent reports of their mental state via their mobile phones and receive personalized therapeutic exercises.
The overarching goal is to transform the waiting period for mental health treatment into a more supportive and purposeful phase. If successful, this work may allow us to reconceptualize "waiting time" as "preparation time".
Scientific interests
I am a psychologist with a longstanding interest in psychotherapy, particularly from a relational perspective. This approach emphasizes how psychological distress often emerges and unfolds within interpersonal contexts, especially in relationships with significant others.
Because mental health is complex, highly individual, and strongly context‑dependent, it represents a dynamic and challenging object of scientific inquiry. This complexity underscores the need for robust measurement strategies and advanced theoretical models. In my research I employ advanced statistical modeling techniques to examine how mental health fluctuates across days and even hours.
I also have strong interests in programming and technology, as well as mathematics and statistics.
Teaching
Background
- Research assistant at the Affect Conciousness group, UiO (2017-2020)
- Junior Researcher Programme (2019-2020)
- Cand. Psychol, UiO (2016-2021)
- Psychologist, Lovisenberg Diakonale hospital (2022-2023)
- Psychologist, Oslo University hospital (2024)
- Bachelors degree in Mathematics: Data, Modelling and Computations, UiO (2023-2025)