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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 . 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 (.

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

Academic article

Conference poster

Conference lecture

Letter to the editor

Academic book chapter

Lecture

Academic literature review

Popular science article

Professional article

Doctoral thesis (PhD)

Stige, S. H., & Visted, E. (2026). Virtual reality as a tool to enhance clinical psychology students' self-knowledge and self-awareness—a proof-of-concept study. Frontiers in Psychology, Volume 16 - 2025. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1659873

Valestrand, E. A., Grimstad, H., Stige, S. H., & Hofmann, B. M. (2025). Klinisk usikkerhet er ikke bare et onde. Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny raekke, 145(10), 10.4045/tidsskr.25.0270. https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.25.0270

Jeganathan, S., Kvestad, I., Rajendran, S., & Stige, S. H. (2025). Continuation of Kangaroo Mother Care when transitioning from facility to community: maternal and familial perspectives from South India. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 1444. doi:10.1186/s12913-025-13615-7

Fjærestad, A., Stige, S. H., Dyregrov, A., & Kristensen, P. (2025). Terror-bereaved parents experiences of professional help and support: a qualitative analysis. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2025.2529743

Ansar, N., Stige, S. H., Pedersen Engeset, S. M., Nilsen, B., Schanche, E., & Hjeltnes, A. (2025). Reinventing fatherhood -exploring men’ experiences of participating in emotion-focused skills training. Psychotherapy Research, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2025.2494747

Stige, S. H., Greve, M. M., & Trefall, K. A. (2025). Wanting to provide the childhood they never got – a meta-synthesis of how survivors of childhood abuse experience becoming a parent. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2523175

Danielsen, Y. S., Woodfin, V., & Stige, S. H. (2025). Experiential Trajectories of Weight Gain: A Qualitative Study of People With Larger Bodies’ Understanding of Their Weight Changes Throughout Life in Norway. Qualitative Health Research, 10497323251342217. doi:10.1177/10497323251342217

Ulven, O., Stige, S. H., & Danielsen, Y. S. (2025). Premature termination of eating disorder treatment - a qualitative study of therapist perspectives. Journal of Eating Disorders, 13(1), 76. doi:10.1186/s40337-025-01268-0

Munch, M., Stige, S. H., Adólfsdóttir, S., Sørensen, L., & Osnes, B. (2025). “They are just as different as the rest of us” – a focus group study of primary teachers’ perceptions of children with ADHD who struggle socially. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2025.2465215

Stige, S. H. & Oddli, H. B. W. (2024). Vitskapsteori – kva er det, og kvifor er det viktig når vi gjer forsking? I Lorås, L. & Ness, O. (red). Håndbok i kvalitativ forskning for helse- og sosialfag, s. 31-44. Fagbokforlaget

Stige, S. H., Hjeltnes, A., Oddli, H. B. W., Watson, J., & Stige, B. (2024). Empati i kvalitativ analyse. I Lorås, L. & Ness, O. (red). Håndbok i kvalitativ forskning for helse- og sosialfag, s. 121-134. Fagbokforlaget

Stige, S. H., Oddli, H. W., Hjeltnes, A., Watson, J., & Stige, B. (2024). The researcher as instrument - how our capacity for empathy supports qualitative analysis of transcripts. Qualitative Research in Psychology. Advance online publication. 

Stige, S. H. (2024). The facilitative interpersonal skills performance task—A potential resource for identifying skilled psychotherapists.Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 31(2), 227–229. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000206

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

Halvorsen, M. S., Stige, S. H., Halvorsen, J. E., Binder, P. E., Måkestad, E., Albaek, A. U., & Andersen, A. C. (2024). Detecting child sexual abuse in child and adolescent psychiatry: a survey study of healthcare professionals' assessment practice. International journal of mental health systems, 18(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-024-00632-y

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:

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:

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:

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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: 

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.