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Bård Bertelsen

Head of Department Institutt for psykologi
Image of Bård Bertelsen
Email
bard.bertelsen@uia.no
Phone
+47 37 23 33 73
Mobile phone
+47 99 27 15 12

Background and experience

I am cand. psychol. from UiT in 2001 and received a PhD from UiA in 2022. I have a background as a clinical psychologist specialising in clinical work with children, young people and families. I have more than 20 years of clinical experience, primarily from mental health care for children and young people and family counselling.

Areas of responsibility

Since autumn 2021, I have been the coordinator for the psychology academic group at UiA. 

Teaching

I have the overall responsibility for designing the curriculum for professional education in psychology. I have also been responsible for courses in continuing education, including mental health, substance abuse and addiction, family therapy, and at PhD level.

In terms of teaching, I have been involved in continuing education in family therapy and mental health, substance abuse and addiction. I currently supervise students at master's level in psychosocial health, family therapy and child protection, and at PhD level in psychology and health science. 

Research

My research revolves around three areas of focus: therapy as a socially shaped activity, parental conflicts as institutional complexes, and the development of mental health work rooted in people's lived experiences.

I defended my doctoral thesis at UiA in 2022 with a dissertation on parenting in high-conflict cases, in which I examined how parents' encounters with welfare institutions are influenced by legal, social and cultural frameworks. I have continued this interest in research projects that look at how institutional logics shape both professional practice and families' everyday lives.

I have also been interested in how the role of therapist is shaped and maintained through institutional practices, cultural expectations and social relations. I am particularly interested in how therapists work not only with individuals' stories, but also with societal norms and structures.

I am involved in several research projects. The Return to Reality project explores how language and thinking in the field of mental health can benefit from new concepts from the humanities and social sciences. The Elements of Expression in Human Relations project brings together researchers from psychosocial health, psychology, neuroscience and engineering to study the biological, psychological and social dimensions of human encounters. Furthermore, I am involved in several externally funded research projects as a researcher and/or PhD supervisor, as well as in several national and international research networks.

Projects

Publications

  • Kopperud, Ella & Bertelsen, Bård (2026). Vilje til kjærlighet. Om språk og praksis i høykonfliktsaker. Fokus på familien/ Nordisk tidsskrift for familie- og relasjonsarbeid. ISSN 0332-5415. 54(1), p. 64–82. doi: 10.18261/fokus.54.1.5. Full text in Research Archive
  • Sælør, Knut Tore; Sundet, Rolf; Lidbom, Per Arne; Bertelsen, Bård; Bøe, Tore Dag & Hillesund, Odd Kenneth (2026). An ontology of difference: Speculations on psychotherapy, mental health work, difference, and ethical realism. Theory & psychology. ISSN 0959-3543. p. 1–21. doi: 10.1177/09593543261418615. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Bertelsen, Bård (2025). Posisjonen til terapeuten - en videoveiledningsmetode. Fokus på familien/ Nordisk tidsskrift for familie- og relasjonsarbeid. ISSN 0332-5415. 53(4), p. 320–340. doi: 10.18261/fokus.53.4.4. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård; Hillesund, Odd Kenneth; Olkowska, Alicja; Lindeman, Sari Kaarina; Flon, Halvor de & Karlsen, Tor-Ivar (2025). Relevance and utility of family therapy education. Recommendations for a large-scale survey based on a pilot study among students, therapists and employers. | Research Square. Research Square. ISSN 2693-5015. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8059525/v1. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård; Hillesund, Odd Kenneth; Bøe, Tore Dag; Lidbom, Per Arne; Sundet, Rolf & Ingold, Tim (2025). Steps towards a New Humanism in the Mental Health Disciplines - An Interview with Tim Ingold. Integrative Psychological and Behavioural Science. ISSN 1932-4502. 59. doi: 10.1007/s12124-024-09877-1. Full text in Research Archive
  • Holter, Marianne Therese Smogeli; Bøe, Tore Dag & Bertelsen, Bård (2024). Et alternativ til diagnoser for psykiske lidelser: Makt–trussel–mening-rammeverket. Tidsskrift for Norsk psykologforening (Psykologtidsskriftet). ISSN 0332-6470. 61(7), p. 454–462. doi: 10.52734/PTJO4792. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård & Kopperud, Ella (2024). Foreldrekonflikter og offentlige tjenester - et samspill? In Syrstad, Ellen & Flacke, Astrid Kleppe (Ed.), Konflikt : forståelse og håndtering i møte med familier. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245044706. p. 103–123. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag; Bertelsen, Bård; Sundet, Rolf; Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Lidbom, Per Arne (2024). Return to reality: What does the world ask of us? Theory & psychology. ISSN 0959-3543. 34(4), p. 531–550. doi: 10.1177/09593543241245071. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2024). Otherwise in Life: Thoughts on a Minimalist Psychotherapy. In Biesta, Gert; Skregelid, Lisbet & Bøe, Tore Dag (Ed.), Being Human Today: Art, Education and Mental Health in Conversation. Intellect Ltd.. ISSN 9781789388848. p. 173–186. doi: 10.2307/jj.13524414.16. Full text in Research Archive
  • Øfsti, Anne & Bertelsen, Bård (2023). Questioning Forgiveness. In Grøver, Tone; Myra, Siv Merete & Axberg, Ulf (Ed.), New Horizons in Systemic Practice with Adults. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9783031305252. p. 47–60. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-30526-9_4. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård & Lund, Janne (2023). Bruddlinjer som utgangspunkt for analysearbeid i institusjonell- etnografisk utforsking. In Magnussen, May-Linda & Nilsen, Ann Christin Eklund (Ed.), Erfaringer med institusjonell etnografi. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202714840. p. 167–185. doi: 10.23865/noasp.195.ch8. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård; Hillesund, Odd Kenneth; Bøe, Tore Dag; Lidbom, Per Arne; Sundet, Rolf & Biesta, Gert J.J. (2023). The World Asks Something from Us: An Interview With Gert Biesta About Encountering Subjects in Education and Mental Health Work. Journal of constructivist psychology. ISSN 1072-0537. p. 1–11. doi: 10.1080/10720537.2023.2291648. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2021). Whose Life is it Anyway? Exploring the Social Relations of High-Conflict Divorce Cases in Southern Norway. Contemporary family therapy. ISSN 0892-2764. 43, p. 276–289. doi: 10.1007/s10591-021-09572-y. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2021). Staying with the conflict – parenting work and the social organization of post-divorce conflict. Journal of Family Studies. ISSN 1322-9400. doi: 10.1080/13229400.2020.1869578. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag; Bertelsen, Bård; Larsen, Inger Beate & Topor, Alain Pierre (2021). A qualitative fallacy: Life trapped in interpretations and stories. Qualitative Research. ISSN 1468-7941. doi: 10.1177/14687941211041916. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2021). Parent Education Beyond Learning: An Ethnographic Exploration of a Multi-family Program for Families in Post-divorce Conflict. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (ANZJFT. ISSN 0814-723X. 42(3), p. 292–308. doi: 10.1002/anzf.1460. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård; Lunder, Hans Christian & Eskelund, Ragnar (2019). Hva vi snakker om når vi snakker om familieterapi og diagnoser. Fokus på familien/ Nordisk tidsskrift for familie- og relasjonsarbeid. ISSN 0332-5415. 47(3), p. 161–180. doi: 10.18261/issn.0807-7487-2019-03-02. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag; Bertelsen, Bård; Sundet, Rolf; Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Lidbom, Per Arne (2018). "Stop making sense" - a randomized text design study. Murmurations: Journal of Transformative Systemic Practice. 1(2), p. 63–79. doi: 10.28963/1.2.6. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård & Bøe, Tore Dag (2016). ‘He is Quirky; He is the World's Greatest Psychologist’: on the community of those who have nothing in common. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (ANZJFT. ISSN 0814-723X. 37(3), p. 367–380. doi: 10.1002/anzf.1155. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård; Johnsen, Hanne; Lindemann, Harald & Odden, Espen (2015). Mange ganger skal det ikke så mye til. In Ulland, Dagfinn; Thorød, Anne Brita & Ulland, Erna (Ed.), Psykisk Helse. Nye arenaer, aktører og tilnærminger. Universitetsforlaget. ISSN 9788215024035. p. 111–119. Full text in Research Archive
  • Ulland, Dagfinn & Bertelsen, Bård (2010). Kunnskapssyn og etikk i psykisk helsearbeid. Tidsskrift for psykisk helsearbeid. ISSN 1503-6707. 7(2), p. 121–129. Full text in Research Archive
  • Vaskinn, Anita Mikalsen; Bertelsen, Bård & Flaten, Magne Arve (2001). Effects of caffeine, caffeine-associated stimuli, and caffeine-related information on physiological and psychological arousal. Psychopharmacology. ISSN 0033-3158. 157, p. 373–380. doi: 10.1007/s002130100841. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

  • Bøe, Tore Dag & Bertelsen, Bård (2026). Makt trussel mening rammeverket. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2026). Kan psykologiske funn gjentas? Replikasjonskrisen i sosialpsykologien. doi: https:/www.agdervitenskapsakademi.no/data/images/2537/Psykologi%20-%20En%20vitenskap%20i%20endring.pdf. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Bertelsen, Bård (2025). "The position of the therapist’s video guidance". Full text in Research Archive
  • Lund, Janne & Bertelsen, Bård (2025). Dialogue about Janet Rankin’s approach to analysis. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2025). Erfaringer fra forskning på/om/i familieterapi og psykososialt helsearbeid. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Bertelsen, Bård (2025). Ferdighetstrening ved hjelp av videoveiledning. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2025). Mekling og etikk - Bufetats Grunnopplæring mekling Trinn II. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård & Kopperud, Ella (2025). Konflikt og kjærlighet. Om valg av språk i møter med foreldre med vedvarende høyt konfliktnivå etter samlivsbrudd. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag; Lidbom, Per Arne; Melby, Kristian Leonard; Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Bertelsen, Bård (2025). Elements of Expression in Human Relationships: Multimodal Exploration of the Bio-Social Dynamics of Communication. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård & Hillesund, Odd Kenneth (2024). Perceptions of the value of family therapy education among students, therapists and employers: A survey. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Bertelsen, Bård (2024). On expertice and being an expert - a (k)not knowing approach to therapy. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Bertelsen, Bård (2024). Human correspondence - a fresh lens on psychosocial recovery. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag & Bertelsen, Bård (2024). Elements of expression in human relations - exploring the bio-social dynamics of communication. Full text in Research Archive
  • Lund, Janne; Schrøder, Siv Kristine & Bertelsen, Bård (2024). To fagfelt møtes, Institusjonell etnografi og psykisk helse. Full text in Research Archive
  • Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Bertelsen, Bård (2023). Was that me? Full text in Research Archive
  • Vedeler, Anne Hedvig; Bagge, Randi F; Vilje, Linda; Kopperud, Ella; Grasaasen, Anne & Olkowska, Alicja [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2023). Ja til begrepsmessig mangfold. Innlegg i debatten om ikke-vitende posisjon. Fokus på familien/ Nordisk tidsskrift for familie- og relasjonsarbeid. ISSN 0332-5415. 51(1), p. 67–75. doi: 10.18261/fokus.51.1.6. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2022). Foreldrekonflikter og offentlige tjenester – et samspill? Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2022). Ett fenomen, flere innganger – konflikt, bekymring, forpliktelse, kjærlighet. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2021). Høykonfliktsaker sett fra foreldres ståsted – konfliktarbeid og institusjonell styring. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2021). Foreldres arbeid i høykonfliktsaker - hvilke verdier er konfliktene knyttet til? Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2021). Foreldreskap i høykonfliktsaker: omsorgssvikt eller omsorg satt på spissen? Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2019). Gotta serve somebody. Metaforum - Tidsskrift for Norsk Familieterapiforening. p. 60–65. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag; Bertelsen, Bård; Hillesund, Odd Kenneth; Sundet, Rolf & Lidbom, Per Arne (2019). Stop making sense. Report From A Randomized Text Design Study. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag; Lidbom, Per Arne; Sundet, Rolf; Hillesund, Odd Kenneth & Bertelsen, Bård (2019). What the world asks of me. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag & Bertelsen, Bård (2019). Researching what cannot be known. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag; Lidbom, Per Arne; Bertelsen, Bård & Hillesund, Odd Kenneth (2017). Being Moved. Full text in Research Archive
  • Anderson, Harlene; Vedeler, Anne Hedvig & Bertelsen, Bård (2017). En samarbeidsbasert dialogisk tilnærming til parterapi. In Ness, Ottar (Eds.), Håndbok i parterapi. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245022063. p. 273–283. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bertelsen, Bård (2017). Sånn skal det gjøres! Om å bli parterapeut. In Ness, Ottar (Eds.), Håndbok i parterapi. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245022063. p. 49–60. Full text in Research Archive
  • Bøe, Tore Dag; Bertelsen, Bård; Lidbom, Per Arne & Hillesund, Odd Kenneth (2016). “Attentive pro-spective responsibility: Opening the future for each other”. Full text in Research Archive
  • Karlsson, Bengt Eirik; Bertelsen, Bård & Krossbakken, Elfrid (2024). «Familievernets rolle innen forebygging og foreldrestøtte: Implikasjoner av den nyere velferdslovgivningen». En forskningsbasert utforskning av erfaringer og kunnskaper om den nyere velferdslovgivningen i familievernet, barnevernet og helsestasjoner. Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge/Universitetet i Søraust-Noreg. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

Published Apr. 16, 2024 11:18 AM - Last modified Sep. 9, 2025 11:15 AM