Per Arne Lidbom

• 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 Show summary

  In mental health and substance use, assessment and the resulting diagnosis determine the choice of treatment or therapy to be used with the individual client. In health policy today, treatment should be evidence based and standardized. Health care thus draws on New Public Management principles, where only those methods and practices considered to be evidence based are accepted in the “market” of public health care. However, we view psychotherapy and mental health work as a meeting between persons that in the spirit of standardization might well be labelled “an individual case.” Psychiatric diagnoses are subject not only to standardization but also to a focus on identity and similarities, as more generally seen in Western science and philosophy. Difference arises when comparing identities; difference is secondary to identities. In this article, we draw on the philosophy of Deleuze and Guattari to explore whether an ontology of difference could be helpful in therapy. An ontology of difference speaks to our experience as therapists, researchers, and teachers that there will always be difference, and that identities are secondary to difference. Rather than providing standardized answers, knowledge is useful for speculating, experimenting, and bringing forth innovative suggestions as to what could be helpful therapy in the individual case. We do not know what psychotherapy and mental health work can become and we need tools for experimentation, suggestions, and visions of what could be helpful. This must be based on collaborative relationships with those who seek help and support. The central question is, then: What can therapy become?

• Bøe, Tore Dag; Lidbom, Per Arne & Winterstø, Wenche (2025). Psykososialt arbeid sekund for sekund: Livliggjørende øyeblikk og dialoger med smutthull. In Andersen, Anders Johan W. & Haugland, Siri Håvås (Ed.), Perspektiver på psykososial helse. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245053180. p. 305–321. doi: 10.55669/oa550218. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  I dette kapittelet vil vi presentere en utforskning av en konkret samtale mellom «Sophia», en 15 år gammel jente, og «Malin», en psykisk helsearbeider ved en kommunal tjeneste. Utforskningen er inspirert av ideer og begreper fra sosiologien til Johan Asplund og filosofien til Mikhail Bakhtin, som viser hvordan våre menneskeliv blir til i en mangfoldig vev av dialoger og responser. Basert på utforskningen foreslår vi at psykososialt helsearbeid kan forstås som et arbeid for å skape sosiale rom som er livliggjørende. Det kan samtidig være en fare for at disse sosiale rommene fanger oss, eller bryter oss ned, derfor blir det nødvendig også å skape smutthull der en kan tre inn og ut av de sosiale rommene.

• 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 Show summary

  This interview article explores how British anthropologist Tim Ingold’s work can inspire innovation in mental health and the psy disciplines. Ingold critiques dominant biomedical and individualistic approaches, arguing for the importance of caring attentiveness and abolishing dichotomies like those between surface and depth, when engaging with people to understand and assist them. Instead, he suggests viewing human existence as correspondences with environmental, social, and relational others. The interview highlights the concept of “doing-undergoing,” proposing that care is a reciprocal, relational process. Ingold’s ideas suggest a shift towards practices that engage directly with the world and promote attentiveness to human and more-than-human relations. The article encourages practitioners, educators and students of mental health disciplines to rethink traditional models and adopt more humane approaches.

• 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 Show summary

  This article introduces the project Return to Reality: What Does the World Ask of Us? This project evolved from a concern that frameworks in mental health operate with knowledge as their primary mode in such a way that reality is lost from sight. This is not primarily an epistemological problem, but an ethical and existential one: ethical because a knowledge-mediated relation to the real can make us blind to the ethical imperatives found in encounters with reality; existential because to be a subject is to respond to what is real. The works of Gert Biesta are a key inspiration. We use Levinas’s, Lingis’s, and Arendt’s ideas to elaborate these concerns. A return to reality is needed; a shift from knowledge-based to reality-sensitive approaches. We relate these ideas to the Open Dialogue approach, with the key imperative of responding to the presence of those present, and to Reflecting team practices, which Tom Andersen describes as being guided by people’s bodily responses.

• 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 Show summary

  This interview with Gert Biesta is part of an ongoing research initiative to explore the relationship between reality, social construction, and professional practices within the mental health field. Biesta’s work has been a critical source of inspiration for this project. Biesta’s work centers on the purpose and aims of education, emphasizing subjectification or the process of engaging with one’s own freedom and becoming a subject capable of navigating the world. Biesta argues for a world-centered rather than child-centered or curriculum-centered education. This is not only because education should provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to act effectively in the world, but most importantly, because the world is where our existence as human beings takes place. Biesta thus engages with ethics and the connection between education and broader philosophical themes and challenges instrumental approaches in favor of seeing education as having intrinsic value for human growth and democratic citizenship. Although Biesta’s work is primarily concerned with educational questions, his ideas transcend education and can prove productive in other domains. In the interview, we extend the conversation to mental health, seeking areas where Biesta’s ideas resonate. In the concluding paragraph, the authors highlight the parallels between education and mental health, particularly their shared emphasis on subjectivity and the challenge of navigating reality. It is suggested that education and mental health intersect in their concern for “subjectness” and how individuals must relate to what the world demands of them.

• Sidis, Anna; Bøe, Tore Dag; Karlsson, Bengt Eirik; Lidbom, Per Arne; Moore, A.R. & Pickard, J. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2023). In defence of loose ends: Psychotherapy process research in the real world. New Ideas in Psychology. ISSN 0732-118X. 69. doi: 10.1016/j.newideapsych.2023.101011. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Understanding what transpires in therapeutic conversations is as complex as the humans who are engaged in them. Inspired by the natural sciences, mainstream research in psychotherapy has taken up a positivist epistemology and strives for quantification and verification to produce evidence of the effectiveness of an approach. This paper explores an alternative foundation for therapeutic practices which has implications for how we do research. First, we present some ideas from process philosophy and dialogical perspectives.. In particular we return to the ideas of Henri Bergson who understood change as consisting of interpenetrated continuous and shifting states. In a next step we briefly look into how such ideas have influenced what is referred to as dialogical practices. Such dialogical practices operate through facilitating polyphonic, diverse perspectives that may mediate change in and through an intersubjective process of becoming. Based on this we take another step and make some suggestions for how we may develop research that enables ways of exploring therapeutic conversations as a multi-voiced, interactional and unfinalized process. We offer by way of example a method by which we attempt to integrate a linguistic theory (Systemic functional linguistics) with the dialogical framework and the ideas of Bergson. This paper considers how process philosophy may offer an alternative to the seeking of certainty that occurs in both psychotherapy research and practice, and ideas for making space for the ‘loose ends’ of the inconsistent and the unknown.

• 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
• Lidbom, Per Arne; Bøe, Tore Dag; Kristoffersen, Kjell; Ulland, Dagfinn & Seikkula, Jaakko (2016). Shared sequences from network therapy with adolescents only the therapist finds meaningful. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (ANZJFT. ISSN 0814-723X. 37(4), p. 500–513. doi: 10.1002/anzf.1191. Full text in Research Archive
• Lidbom, Per Arne; Bøe, Tore Dag; Kristoffersen, Kjell; Ulland, Dagfinn & Seikkula, Jaakko (2015). How Participants’ Inner Dialogues Contribute to Significant and Meaningful Moments in Network Therapy with Adolescents. Contemporary family therapy. ISSN 0892-2764. 37(2), p. 122–129. doi: 10.1007/s10591-015-9331-0. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag; Kristoffersen, Kjell; Lidbom, Per Arne; Lindvig, Gunnhild Ruud; Seikkula, Jaakko & Ulland, Dagfinn [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2015). 'Through speaking, he finds himself ⋯ a bit': Dialogues open for moving and living through inviting attentiveness, expressive vitality and new meaning. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (ANZJFT. ISSN 0814-723X. 36(1), p. 167–187. doi: 10.1002/anzf.1092. Full text in Research Archive
• Lidbom, Per Arne; Bøe, Tore Dag; Kristoffersen, Kjell; Ulland, Dagfinn & Seikkula, Jaakko (2014). A study of a network meeting: Exploring the interplay between inner and outer dialogues in significant and meaningful moments. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (ANZJFT. ISSN 0814-723X. 35(2), p. 136–149. doi: 10.1002/anzf.1052. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag; Kristoffersen, Kjell; Lidbom, Per Arne; Lindvig, Gunnhild Ruud; Seikkula, Jaakko & Ulland, Dagfinn [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2014). “She Offered Me a Place and a Future”: Change is an Event of Becoming Through Movement in Ethical Time and Space. Contemporary family therapy. ISSN 0892-2764. 36(4), p. 474–484. doi: 10.1007/s10591-014-9317-3. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Within mental health research, the promise of exploring the lived experience of those affected is increasingly acknowledged. This research points to the significance of social aspects. The present study is part of a series of qualitative studies exploring network-oriented practices in southern Norway. The aim of this study was to explore the social dynamics of change related to adolescents in psychosocial crises. From the perspective of lived experience the study focused changes related to the adolescents’ ways of existing in various social arenas. Data from qualitative interviews with adolescents receiving help from a mental health service, persons in their social network, and the practitioners involved were explored through a dialogical phenomenological–hermeneutical process. Two co-researchers, on the basis of their own experience with mental health problems, participated throughout the research process. Concepts from the thinking of Mikhail Bakhtin, Françoise Dastur, and John Shotter were used as interpretative help. Main theme: change is the event of becoming through movement in Ethical Time and Space. Two dimensions, conceptualized as Ethical Space and Ethical Time, were identified: (1) “A place for me” or “No place for me” (Ethical Space), and (2) Before-Event of anticipation—Event of movement—After-Event of experience (Ethical Time). Four aspects within these dimensions emerged: (1) an opening Before-Event: offering space for my movement; (2) a closing Before-Event: not offering space for my movement; (3) a life-giving After-Event: the experience of being valued; and (4) a life-deteriorating After-Event: the experience of being devalued. The results are discussed in relation to other studies investigating how bodily responsiveness is at the core of human becoming.

• Bøe, Tore Dag; Kristoffersen, Kjell; Lidbom, Per Arne; Lindvig, Gunnhild Ruud; Seikkula, Jaakko & Ulland, Dagfinn [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2013). Change is an ongoing ethical event: Levinas, Bakhtin and the dialogical dynamics of becoming. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (ANZJFT. ISSN 0814-723X. 34(1), p. 18–31. doi: 10.1002/anzf.1003. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

• Høigaard, Rune & Lidbom, Per Arne (1999). Gruppepsykologi i idrett. Cappelen Damm Høyskoleforlaget. ISBN 9788276342307. 218 p. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA

• Bøe, Tore Dag; Melby, Kristian Leonard & Lidbom, Per Arne (2025). Multimodal tilblivelse gjennom dialog. Om et forskningsprosjekt. 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
• Bøe, Tore Dag & Lidbom, Per Arne (2024). Livet finner sted - Dialogisk praksis er å skape konkrete rom for vitalitet. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag & Lidbom, Per Arne (2024). Kunsten å bevege seg inn og ut av dialoger. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag; Lidbom, Per Arne; Hope, Øyvind Johannes & Winterstø, Wenche (2023). Stepping in and stepping out of dialogue. 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
• Bøe, Tore Dag & Lidbom, Per Arne (2022). Redselen for andres blikk. Om sosial angst og veier til bedring. En samtale. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag & Lidbom, Per Arne (2020). Stemmen og ansiktet. Om dialog og sanselighet i menneskemøter. 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; Lidbom, Per Arne; Bertelsen, Bård & Hillesund, Odd Kenneth (2017). Being Moved. 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
• Bøe, Tore Dag & Lidbom, Per Arne (2014). Speaking Beyond Words. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag; Kristoffersen, Kjell; Ulland, Dagfinn; Seikkula, Jaakko; Lidbom, Per Arne & Lindvig, Gunnhild Ruud [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2014). "She offered me a place and a future": Change is becoming through movement in ethical time and space. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag & Lidbom, Per Arne (2013). Endring: Etisk begivenhet og ny mening. Full text in Research Archive
• Ulland, Dagfinn; Kristoffersen, Kjell & Lidbom, Per Arne (2013). The Dialogical Dynamics of the Encounter: Ethics and New Meaning. Full text in Research Archive
• Ulland, Dagfinn; Lidbom, Per Arne; Kristoffersen, Kjell; Seikkula, Jaakko; Zachariassen, Karianne & Lindvig, Gunnhild Ruud (2013). Endring er bevegelse og samtale er polyfoni. Presentasjon av to pågående studier. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag; Ulland, Dagfinn; Lidbom, Per Arne; Seikkula, Jaakko; Kristoffersen, Kjell & Zachariassen, Karianne [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2013). Change: Ethics and new meaning. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag; Ulland, Dagfinn; Lidbom, Per Arne; Seikkula, Jaakko; Kristoffersen, Kjell & Zachariassen, Karianne [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2013). Endring er bevegelse og samtalen er polyfoni. Presentasjon av en dialogisk studie av nettverksarbeid. Full text in Research Archive
• Bøe, Tore Dag & Lidbom, Per Arne (2012). Har psykologien forlatt hodene våre? Full text in Research Archive
• Kristoffersen, Kjell; Ulland, Dagfinn; Bøe, Tore Dag; Lidbom, Per Arne & Seikkula, Jaakko (2011). Dialogical Collaboration in Agder County. Part 1 and Part 2. Inn the Dialogical Moment: words, emotions, movement and silence. Full text in Research Archive

View all works in NVA