- E-mailSigne.Stige@uib.no
- Phone+47 55 58 88 76
- Visitor AddressAlrek helseklynge, Årstadveien 175009 Bergen
- Postal AddressPostboks 78075020 Bergen
The main focus of my research has been in the field of trauma and qualitative psychotherapy research, and I am a co-researcher on several projects in these areas. I am also interested in health service research, including the therapist’s perspective on treatment and clinical decision-making.
In addition, I am very interested in clinical training and lead the subgroup “clinical training”, which is part of the research group Bergen Psychotherapy Change Lab. We are several colleagues at the department of clinical psychology who over several years have laid the foundation for research on the clinical training we offer at the university. Traditionally, universities ensured that students learned what they needed through assessments within each course during training, as well as approved practicum periods. However, both nationally and internationally, there is very little systematization of experience with clinical training, and it has only to a small extent been investigated whether students strengthen key therapeutic skills through training. Although the group has worked to lay the foundation for such research over several years, the group and research portfolio are still under development and construction. However, the group has several specific areas where we work systematically: Area 1: Formulation of what competence is necessary to have as a clinical psychologist; Area 2: Measurement of relevant clinical skills; Area 3: Investigation of what situations Norwegian clinicians experience as particularly demanding; Area 4: Establishment of a video library with relevant, clinical situations in a Norwegian context; Area 5: VR vs. Screen - Does VR Make a Difference?; Area 6: Deliberate Practice as a Pedagogical Model for Acquiring Clinical Competence; Area 7: How to facilitate the development of students’ therapist responsiveness?; and Area 8: Video coding of therapy as an opportunity for modeling. For more information, see the website of the research group (Bergen Psychotherapy Change Lab | University of Bergen (uib.no).
I am also interested in developing thinking about the-researcher-as-instrument in qualitative research and the implications this has for training. I have, for example, led a project on the role of empathy in qualitative analysis, and have recently initiated a project on expertise in qualitative analysis.
Research interests:
Clinical training
Psychotherapy research
Qualitative methods
Complex trauma
Health service research
- (2023). Krevjande situasjonar i psykisk helsevern for born og unge – behandlarar si erfaring med og haldning til målretta trening og virtuell røyndom. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 8-15.
- (2023). How do young adults experience and understand the process of developing a first episode of psychosis? A qualitative exploration. Psychosis. 11 pages.
- (2023). Clients’ experiences with a Trauma-sensitive mindfulness and compassion group intervention: a first-person perspective on change and change mechanisms. Psychotherapy Research.
- (2023). Change despite obstacles: A mixed-methods pilot study of a trauma-sensitive mindfulness and compassion intervention. Revue Européenne du Trauma et de la Dissociation.
- (2022). Norwegian Firefighters’ Experiences of Rescue Work at Severe Traffic Accidents- A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health. 91-101.
- (2022). Grief trajectories among bereaved parents after the 2011 Utøya terror attack: A qualitative analysis. Death Studies. 1-14.
- (2022). From seeing difficult behaviour to recognizing legitimate needs–A qualitative study of mothers' experiences of participating in a Circle of Security Parenting program in a public mental health setting. Psychotherapy Research. 1-13.
- (2021). What do survivors of child sexual abuse believe will facilitate early disclosure of sexual abuse? Frontiers in Psychiatry. 1-8.
- (2021). Parenthood—Lost and Found: Exploring Parents’ Experiences of Receiving a Program in Emotion Focused Skills Training. Frontiers in Psychology. 1-12.
- (2021). Negotiating System Requirements to Secure Client Engagement – Therapist Strategies in Adolescent Psychotherapy Initiated by Others. Frontiers in Psychology. 1-15.
- (2021). Goal management training for adults with ADHD – clients’ experiences with a group-based intervention. BMC Psychiatry. 12 pages.
- (2021). Finding One's Footing When Everyone Has an Opinion. Negotiating an Acceptable Identity After Sexual Assault. Frontiers in Psychology.
- (2021). Combining mindfulness and compassion in the treatment of complex trauma – a theoretical exploration. Revue Européenne du Trauma et de la Dissociation.
- (2021). Clients’ Perspective on Predetermined Time Limits for Therapy in the Context of the Norwegian Welfare System. Sage Open.
- (2021). Barriers and Facilitators in Adolescent Psychotherapy Initiated by Adults – Experiences That Differentiate Adolescents’ Trajectories Through Mental Health Care. Frontiers in Psychology.
- (2020). “To say it out loud is to kill your own childhood.” – An exploration of the first person perspective of barriers to disclosing child sexual abuse. Children and Youth Services Review. 1-9.
- (2020). The nature of youth in the eyes of mental-health care workers: Therapists' conceptualization of adolescents coming to therapy at others' initiative. International Journal of Mental Health Systems.
- (2020). Does it get easier over time? Psychologists’ experiences of working with suicidal patients. Death Studies.
- (2020). A Qualitative Study of Use of Mindfulness to Reduce Long-Term Use of Habit-Forming Prescription Drugs. Frontiers in Psychiatry.
- (2019). “You Feel They Have a Heart and Are Not Afraid to Show It”: Exploring How Clients Experience the Therapeutic Relationship in Emotion-Focused Therapy. Frontiers in Psychology. 1-11.
- (2019). “We all have a responsibility”: a narrative discourse analysis of an information campaign targeting help-seeking in first episode psychosis. International Journal of Mental Health Systems. 1-14.
- (2019). “Nothing is just smooth or perfect”: What can students learn from intensively reviewing psychotherapy conducted by experienced therapists whilst being focused on emotional processes? Counselling and Psychotherapy Research.
- (2019). «Ingen vet hvem du er» – flyktningers opplevelse av omstillingsprosessen i Norge . Tidsskrift for psykisk helsearbeid. 135-146.
- (2019). Pathways to Understanding – How Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Came to Understand that they had been Sexually Abused. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse. 205-221.
- (2019). Kva typar mellommenneskelege situasjonar opplever norske psykologar o�ftast og som mest krevjande? Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening.
- (2019). Becoming Aware of Inner Self-Critique and Kinder Toward Self: A Qualitative Study of Experiences of Outcome After a Brief Self-Compassion Intervention for University Level Students. Frontiers in Psychology. 1-12.
- (2019). An Emotion Focused Family Therapy workshop for parents with children 6-12 years increased parental self-efficacy. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties. 1-14.
- (2019). "Needing different things from different people" - a qualitative exploration of recovery in firstepisode psychosis. Social Work in Mental Health. 75-95.
- (2018). “It’s heavy, intense, horrendous and nice”: Clients’ experiences of processing emotions in a two-chair dialogue. Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies. 139-159.
- (2018). Trauma Clients’ Continuing Work on Relationships with Their Self and Others after Trauma-Specific Group Therapy. Self & Society. 74-85.
- (2018). Medicine and meaning - How experienced therapists describe the role of medication in recovery processes in bipolar disorder. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research.
- (2017). The role of therapy in personal recovery - Trauma clients' use of resources to continue positive processes following group therapy. Qualitative Social Work. 24-36.
- (2017). Does a short self-compassion intervention for students increase healthy self-regulation? A randomized control trial. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 443-450.
- (2017). 'If there's no stability around them': Experienced therapists' view on the role of patients' social world in recovery in bipolar disorder. International Journal of Mental Health Systems.
- (2017). "Jeg forstår henne bedre nå" : en kvalitativ studie av foreldres opplevelse av relasjonen til egne barn etter emosjonsfokusert foreldreveiledning. Scandinavian Psychologist. 1-13.
- (2016). Why do we need qualitative research on psychological treatments? The case for discovery, reflexivity, critique, receptivity, and evocation. Scandinavian Psychologist.
- (2016). From painstaking work to a new way of meeting the world—Trauma clients’ experiences with skill training in a stabilization group approach. Psychotherapy Research.
- (2016). From cumulative strain to available resources: A case study of the potential effects of new trauma on recovery. Illness, Crisis and Loss. 270-292.
- (2015). Individualbehandleres erfaringer med traumespesifikk gruppebehandling på et mindre DPS. Tidsskrift for psykisk helsearbeid. 229-238.
- (2013). The Process Leading to Help Seeking Following Childhood Trauma. Qualitative Health Research. 1295-1306.
- (2013). Stories from the road of recovery - How adult, female survivors of childhood trauma experience ways to positive change. Nordic Psychology. 3-18.
- (2013). A meaningful struggle: Trauma clients' experiences with an inclusive stabilization group approach. Psychotherapy Research. 419-429.
- (2011). A Stabilization Group Approach for Heterogeneous Populations of Trauma Clients. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. 886-903.
- (2010). Living in exile when disaster strikes at home. Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture. 76-92.
- (2007). The Development of Visual P3a and P3b. Developmental Neuropsychology. 563-584.
- (2022). Keynote: Konsonanser og dissonanser over Dagens Grunntone: Forskning.
- (2023). Including therapists in public mental health care as co-researchers in psychotherapy research – A potential pathway to bridge the practitioner-researcher divide?
- (2011). Mediedekninga - eit hinder for hjelp? Vårt land. 20-21.
- (2015). Fleksible terapeutar i faste strukturar. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 888-891.
- (2013). Stabilization groups for heterogeneous samples of trauma clients. Presentation of a new treatment approach, and a hermeneutical-phenomenological analysis of help seeking, treatment participation, and ways to positive change.
- (2022). Therapist responsiveness to ambivalence in eating disorder (ED) treatment- A qualitative study of therapist perspectives.
- (2022). Therapist responsiveness in challenging situations – Results from two surveys on what situations therapists find most challenging.
- (2016). Experiences of meeting early intervention services for psychosis. Results from a narrative meta-synthesis of 17 qualitative studies on service user experiences.
- (2016). Experiences of meeting early intervention services for psychosis. Results from a narrative meta-synthesis providing a systematic integration of 17 qualitative studies on service user experiences.
- (2011). The help-seeking process among women with trauma-related symptoms. Preliminary results from a qualitative research project.
- (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. 1-27.
- (2017). How do people experience early intervention services for psychosis? A meta-synthesis. Qualitative Health Research. 259-272.
- (2009). Brubygging og vegen mot eit kultursensitivt helsevesen. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening. 362-365.
More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)
Stige, S.H., Torrissen, M.H., Danielsen, Y.S., Jakobsen, R., Morken, K. T. E., & Dundas, I. (2024). Training students to become responsive therapists: implications from a sequential mixed-methods study on situations that therapists find challenging. BMC Medical Education 24, 261. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05236-1
Salvesen, K. T., Stige, S. H., Wästlund, M., & Vrabel, K. (2023). Change despite obstacles: A mixed-methods pilot study of a trauma-sensitive mindfulness and compassion intervention. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 7(4), 100361. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2023.100361
Hansen, Hege Almeland; Stige, Signe Hjelen; Davidson, Larry; Løberg, Else-Marie; Veseth, Marius. (2023). How do young adults experience and understand the process of developing a first episode of psychosis? A qualitative exploration. Psychosis
Wästlund, M., Salvesen, K., & Stige, S. H. (2023). Clients’ experiences with a Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness and Compassion Group Intervention – A first person perspective on change and change mechanisms. Psychotherapy Research
Stige, S. H., Fjellheim, G., Elgen, I., & Visted, E. (2023). Krevjande situasjonar i psykisk helsevern for born og unge - Behandlarar si erfaring med og haldning til målretta trening og virtuell røyndom. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening.
Helle, J., Vøllestad, J., Schanche, E., & Stige, S. H. (2023). From seeing difficult behaviour to recognizing legitimate needs - A qualitative study of mothers' experiences of participating in a Circle of Security Parenting program in a public mental health setting. Psychotherapy research : journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research, 33(4), 482–493. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2022.2132888
Fjærestad, A., Kristensen, P., Dyregrov, A., & Stige, S. H. (2022). Grief trajectories among bereaved parents after the 2011 Utøya terror attack: A qualitative analysis. Death Studies, DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2022.2135045
Geertsen, A. C., & Stige, S. H. (2022). Norwegian Firefighters' Experiences of Rescue Work at Severe Traffic Accidents - A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience, 24(7), p 91-101.
Stige, S. H., Andersen, A. C., Halvorsen, M. S., Måkestad, E., Halvorsen, J. E., Binder, P.-E., & Albæk, A. U. (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, 17(1), DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2022.2103934
Stige, S. H., Eik, I., Oddli, H. W., & Moltu, C. (2021). Negotiating system requirements to secure client engagement – Therapist strategies in adolescent psychotherapy initiated by others. Frontiers in Psychology, section Psychology for Clinical Settings
Dundas, I., Mæhle, E., & Stige, S. H. (2021). Finding One's Footing When Everyone Has an Opinion. Negotiating an Acceptable Identity After Sexual Assault. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 649530. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.649530
Solberg, E. T., Halvorsen, J. E., & Stige, S. H. (2021). What Do Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Believe Will Facilitate Early Disclosure of Sexual Abuse?. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 639341. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639341
Ansar, N., Hjeltnes, A., Stige, S. H., Binder, P. E., & Stiegler, J. R. (2021). Parenthood-Lost and Found: Exploring Parents' Experiences of Receiving a Program in Emotion Focused Skills Training. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 559188. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.559188
Stige, S. H., Binder, P.-E., Stiegler, J. R., Schanche, E., Hummelslund, D. A., & Hjeltnes, A. (2021). Clients’ Perspective on Predetermined Time Limits for Therapy in the Context of the Norwegian Welfare System. SAGE Open. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211009506
Strand, M., & Stige, S. H. (2021). Combining mindfulness and compassion in the treatment of complex trauma – a theoretical exploration. European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 5(3), 100217. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2021.100217
Nordby, E. S., Gilje, S., Jensen, D. A., Sørensen, L., & Stige, S. H. (2021). Goal management training for adults with ADHD – clients’ experiences with a group-based intervention. BMC psychiatry, 21(1), 113. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03114-4
Stige, S. H., Barca, T., B., Lavik, K. O., & Moltu, C. (2021). Barriers and Facilitators in Adolescent Psychotherapy Initiated by Adults – Experiences That Differentiate Adolescents’ Trajectories Through Mental Health Care. Frontiers in Psychology, section Psychology for Clinical Settings, manuscript ID 633663
Dundas, I., Ravnanger, K., Binder, P.-E., & Stige, S. H. (2020). A Qualitative Study of Use of Mindfulness to Reduce Long-Term Use of Habit-Forming Prescription Drugs. Frontiers, doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.493349
Barca, T. B., Moltu, C., Veseth, M., Fjellheim, G., & Stige, S. H. (2020). The nature of youth in the eyes of mental-health care workers: therapists’ conceptualization of adolescents coming to therapy at others’ initiative. International Journal of Mental Health Systems 14(1), doi: 10.1186/s13033-020-00363-w
Halvorsen, J. E., Soltveit, E. T., & Stige, S. H. (2020). “To say it out loud is to kill your own childhood.” – An exploration of the first person perspective of barriers to disclosing child sexual abuse. Children and Youth Services Review, 113:104999, doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.104999
Dundas, I., Hjeltnes, A., Schanche, E., & Stige, S. H. (2020). Does it get easier over time? Psychologists’ experiences of working with suicidal patients. Death Studies. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2020.1740831
Binder, P.-E., Dundas, I., Stige, S. H., Hjeltnes, A., Woodfin, V., & Moltu, C. (2019). Becoming Aware of Inner Self-Critique and Kinder Toward Self: A Qualitative Study of Experiences of Outcome After a Brief Self-Compassion Intervention for University Level Students. Frontiers in Psychology, 10(2728). doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02728
Hansen, H., Stige, S. H., Davidson, L., Løberg, E.-M., & Veseth, M. (2019). "Needing different things from different people" -a qualitative exploration of recovery in first episode psychosis. Social Work in Mental Health, 18(5). doi: 10.1080/15332985.2019.1679324
Grue, M., Bytingsvik, M., & Stige, S. H. (2019). «Ingen vet hvem du er» – flyktningers opplevelse av omstillingsprosessen i Norge. Tidsskrift for psykisk helsearbeid, 16(3). doi: 10.18261/issn.1504-3010-2019-03-03
Nødtvedt, Ø. O., Binder, P.-E., Stige, S. H., Schanche, E., Stiegler, R., & Hjeltnes, A. (2019). “You Feel They Have a Heart and Are Not Afraid to Show It”: Exploring How Clients Experience the Therapeutic Relationship in Emotion-Focused Therapy. Frontiers in Psychology. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01996
Wilhelmsen-Langeland, A., Aardal, H., Hjelmseth, V., Fyhn, K. L., & Stige, S. H. (2019). An Emotion Focused Family Therapy workshop for parents with children 6-12 years increased parental self-efficacy. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 25(1). doi: 10.1080/13632752.2019.1655921
Stige, S. H., Dundas, I., Schanche, E., & Hjeltnes, A. (2019). Kva typar mellommenneskelige situasjonar opplever norske psykologar oftast og som mest krevjande? Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening, 56(8).
Stige, S. H., Halvorsen, J. E., & Soltvedt, E. T. (2019). Pathways to Understanding – How Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Came to Understand that they had been Sexually Abused. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 29(11). doi: 10.1080/10538712.2019.1643432
Hansen, H., Stige, S. H., Moltu, C., Johannesen, J. O., Joa, I., Dybvig, S., & Veseth, M. (2019). "We all have a responsibility": a narrative discourse analysis of an information campaign targeting help-seeking in first episode psychosis. Internation Journal of Mental Health Systems, 13(32). doi: 10.1186/s13033-019-0289-4
Schanche, E., Hjeltnes, A., Nielsen, G., Stige, S. H., & Stiegler, J. R. (2019). “Nothing is just smooth or perfect”: What can students learn from intensively reviewing psychotherapy conducted by experienced therapists whilst being focused on emotional processes? Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 19(3). doi: 10.1002/capr.12211
Stige, S. H., Veseth, M., & Binder, P.-E. (2018). Trauma client's continuing work on relationships with their self and others after trauma-specific group therapy. Self & Society. An International Journal for Humanistic Psychology.
Veseth, M., Stige, S. H., & Binder, P.-E. (2018). Medicine and meaning - How experienced therapists describe the role of medication in recovery processes in bipolar disorder. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 19(2). doi: 10.1002/capr.12193
Stiegler, J. R., Hjeltnes, A., Stige, S. H., Schanche, E., & Binder, P. E. (2018). “It’s heavy, intense, horrendous and nice”: Clients’ experiences of processing emotions in a two-chair dialogue. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 1-21. doi:10.1080/14779757.2018.1472138
Hansen, H., Stige, S. H., Moltu, C., Davidson, L., & Veseth, M. (2017). How Do People Experience Early Intervention Services for Psychosis? - A meta-synthesis. Qualitative Health Research, 28(2), 259-272. doi:10.1177/1049732317735080
Stige, S. H., Binder, P. E., & Veseth, M. (2017). The role of therapy in personal recovery - Trauma clients' use of resources to continue positive processes following group therapy. Qualitative Social Work, doi: 10.1177/1473325017699264
Dundas, I., Binder, P. E., Hansen, T. G. B., & Stige, S. H. (2017). Does a Short Self-Compassion Intervention for Students Increase Healthy Self- Regulation? A Randomized Control Trial. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 58(5), 443-450. doi: 10.1111/sjop.12385
Bøyum, H., & Stige, S. H. (2017). «Jeg forstår henne bedre nå» – En kvalitativ studie av Foreldres opplevelse av relasjonen til egne barn etter emosjonsfokusert foreldreveiledning. Scandinvian Psychologist, 4, e11. https://doi.org/10.15714/scandpsychol.4.e11
Veseth, M., Binder, P. E., & Stige, S. H. (2017). “If there’s no stability around them”: experienced therapists’ view on the role of patients’ social world in recovery in bipolar disorder. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 11(55). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-017-0166-y
Stige, S. H., & Binder, P. E. (2016). From painstaking work to a new way of meeting the world—Trauma clients’ experiences with skill training in a stabilization group approach. Psychotherapy Research, 1-12. doi:10.1080/10503307.2016.1138335
Binder, P. E., Schanche, E., Holgersen, H., Nielsen, G. H., Hjeltnes, A., Stige, S. H., Veseth, M., & Moltu, C. (2016). Why do we need qualitative research on psychological treatments? The case for discovery, reflexivity, critique, receptivity, and evocation. Scandinavian Psychologist, 3, e8. http://dx.doi.org/10.15714/scandpsychol.3.e8
Stige, S. H., & Halvorsen, M. S. (2016). From cumulative strain to available resources: A narrative case study of the potential effects of new trauma exposure on recovery. Illness, Crisis & Loss, 26(4), 270-292. doi: 10.1177/1054137316664177
Stige, S. H., Grøtte, V. M., & Utstøl, K. (2015a). Individualbehandleres erfaringer med traumespesifikk gruppebehandling på et mindre DPS. Tidsskrift for Psykisk Helsearbeid, 12(3), 229-238.
Stige, S. H., Grøtte, V. M., & Utstøl, K. (2015b). Fleksible terapeutar i faste strukturar. Tidsskrift for Norsk psykologforening.
Stige, S. H., Træen, B., & Rosenvinge, J. H. (2013). The Process Leading to Help Seeking Following Childhood Trauma. Qualitative Health Research, 23(10), 1295-1306. doi:10.1177/1049732313503907
Stige, S. H., Rosenvinge, J. H., & Træen, B. (2013). A meaningful struggle: Trauma clients' experiences with an inclusive stabilization group approach. Psychotherapy Research, 23(4), 419-429. doi:10.1080/10503307.2013.778437
Stige, S. H., Binder, P. E., Rosenvinge, J. H., & Træen, B. (2013). Stories from the road of recovery – How adult, female survivors of childhood trauma experience ways to positive change. Nordic Psychology, 65(1), 3-18. doi:10.1080/19012276.2013.796083
Stige, S. H. (2011). A Stabilization Group Approach for Heterogeneous Populations of Trauma Clients. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 20(8), 886-903. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2011.627583
Stige, S. H., & Sveaass, N. (2010). Living in exile when disaster strikes at home. Journal on Rehabilitation of Torture Victims and Prevention of Torture, 20(2), 76-92.
Stige, S. H. (2009). Brubygging og vegen mot eit kultursensitivt helsevesen. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening, 46(4), 362-365.
Stige, S., Fjell, A., Smith, L., Lindgren, M., & Walhovd, K. B. (2007). The Development of Visual P3a and P3b. Developmental Neuropsychology, 32(1), 563-584.