Forskningsprofil

Throughout my career, I have worked with adults at risk of marginalization, both in direct client contact and increasingly in leadership, knowledge, and research roles. In addition to my research and practice in human psychology, I combine my personal interest and passion for animals with my research as the co-director of the Center for Human-Animal Psychology (www.chap.aau.dk).

My mission is to do applied research that has impact for clinical practice and society. Thus, I have been involved in varius national commitees and boards within health and rehabilitation in order to transform research into guidelines and recommendations for practice (e.g. Ny Hvidborg for Rehabiliering). 

Since, 2012 I have had a close collaboration with Aalborg Municipality and the specialized social area in the Northers Region. The collaboration with Aalborg Municipality has resulted in both a Center for Rehabilitation and Disability Psychology, which has its physical location in clinical practice in Aalborg Municipality, where psychology students from the master program in Rehabilitation Psychology (KHARE) receives all their teaching and will have internships in practice. Moreover, researchers from the center also has an office in practice. In, 2024 this collaboration resulted in a shared assistant professor position centered on research to enhance positive mental health in adults with various disabilities and their close relatives. Drawing on Act, Belong, Commit (ABC) as a lifestyle framework, research projects has been initiated e.g. engaging in ordinary community activities, emotional support for relatives and persons with disabilities, culture vitamins, etc., to promote mental health

Moreover, the cross-sectional collaboration with the municipality and the northers region is showcased in a knowledge center on psychological rehabilitation, recovery and interdisciplinary collaboration (Videncenter for Psykologisk Rehabilitating, Recovery og Interdiciplinært samarbejde, ViPRIS). Through a closely integrated research and practice collaboration, the purpose of the knowledge center is:

• To ensure organizational rehabilitation, recovery, and holistic orientation through close and committed collaboration across stakeholders and knowledge environments.
• To develop and disseminate new knowledge in areas where there is an identified need for knowledge.
• To initiate develop projects in areas where there is an identified need for development.
• To document and disseminate existing best practices.
• To ensure the dissemination of knowledge to regions, municipalities, and other stakeholders – locally, nationally, and internationally. ViPRIS holds a yearly national conference.

The specialized social sector is undergoing continuous change. In recent years, there has been an ever-increasing need to document and evidence-based the interventions in the holistic approach. At the same time, there is a high demand for new solutions that support a more holistic approach. ViPRIS will develop and do cross sectional research in holistic interventions in the specialized social sector.

Ph.d.-vejledning

I have suppervised ph.d. students in psychology since 2018. Currently, I have 4 ongoing ph.d. students. 

Administrativ profil

Since 2023, I have been research group manager of Center for Developmental and Applied Psychological Science (CeDAPS). CeDAPS is an internationally recognized group of psychologists dedicated to enhancing quality of life and combating marginalization. The group's research is rooted in developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, and clinical psychology, with a particular focus on applied research, psychosocial interventions, and rehabilitation.