Trainings for Therapists
PSYCHOLOGICAL FORUM
To Meet and Learn Online
For ISTDP/EDT therapists
Psychological Forum is dedicated to creating online training in therapeutic communication where course content and pedagogy are equally important.
For some time, I have been planning online courses in verbal communication. Finally, I can present this first course on verbal connections for those working within ISTDP/EDT therapy.
I am Maria Sandgren, a psychologist, PhD, certified ISTDP therapist with extensive experience in teaching and lecturing. My home base is in Stockholm, Sweden, where I have my private practice. I have always been interested in language, spoken or written - all about expression and communication - and found that there is a lack of knowledge about underlying factors for therapeutic communication based on scientific findings.
Creating online courses and incorporating psychological findings on language, emotions, and relatedness into the iSTDP literature will be my contribution to our community.
I look forward to meeting and discussing with you!
CURRENT COURSES
Traversing the Emotional Distance - Start October, 25th
Welcome to read and register!
COURSE CONTENT
TRAVERSING THE EMOTIONAL DISTANCE
A 6-week Online Course for ISTDP/EDT Therapists
In ISTDP we rely on our choice of wordings to create emotional closeness. However, we know less about the underlying psychology of langauge in doing so.
In this course, you will learn about the underlying psychology and how verbal formulations can enhance closeness and distance - both in line with and beyond the ISTDP literature.
The pedagogial format is particularly created for therapists jugling work and family/private life. You can read more below on this page about course content, pedagogy, requirements, and how to register for the course or receive more information.
The Psychology of Language
The science of language informs us well about the power of language. Language is essential for human to share information, collaborate, and create social bonds. In addition, what and how we express ourselves will shape how we think and create reality. Language is also a social force, as spoken and written, and can be used to influence others.
After completing this course, you will be more aware of language use theoretically and in your therapeutic conversations, as well as its role in creating social connections.
What You will Learn
A 6-week Online Course for ISTDP/EDT practitioners - Start October, 25th
We know less about the psychology of language, which hinders our ability to create constructive changes. In this online course, you will learn:
The basics of the psychology of language
How the psychology of language is already embedded in verbal interventions in ISTDP and also gives more possibilities to create emotional closeness
How to create closeness and distance by wordings for your verbal interventions, and assess the same for your clients
How to apply theory with practical reflection in order to become more perceptive to qualities of distance and closeness shown in verbal interaction
I will present the specifics of ISTDP language use (when, how, what) and also why the therapist's and the client's verbal interaction show signs of increasing or decreasing emotional distance and closeness. The science of language goes beyond what we so far know based on the ISTDP literature.
The Pedagogical Outline
The pedagogial vision for Psychological Forum is to offer a constructive and transparent approach to fostering independent learning and creativity through online encounters. In teaching and supervision, it matters not only whether a learner can accomplish promising interventions with good outcomes, it also matters how the learner can figure out how to learn (for him/herself). That is what good teaching and good outcomes are about - having visions of what we will be able to do and understand in the future, and knowing how we get there.
Organizer
Maria Sandgren
Reg psychologist, PhD psychology
Cert ISTDP therapist
Stockholm, Sweden
Onboarding: 2025-10-17
Course start: 2025-10-25
Course end: 2025-12-05
Saturday-Wednesday: Supervised independent learning.
Fridays: live webinar at 12-13.30 pm US EDT and 12-13.30 pm CET.
Traversing the Emotional Distance
A 6-week Online Course for ISTDP/EDT practitioners
More Information & Invite to Free Webinar
Fill in your contact information and you will immediately receive a detailed schedule for the course.
You are also welcome to attend webinar about verbal formulations, closeness and distance scheduled in September on Monday, 22nd at 12 pm CET, and Friday, 26th at 12 pm US EDT.
Course Organizer
Maria Sandgren
Reg psychologist, PhD psychology,
cert ISTDP therapist
Website (online courses): Psychological Forum Education
Homepage (therapy): Psychological Forum
Blog (not active): Psychology & ISTDP
Google Scholar: Scientific articles
Art Work: Maria Sandgren Photographer Writer
A View on Learning and Transforming
We live in our inner world connected with the outer world. When we learn and change, our perception, thoughts and feelings also transform. We expand our view of ourselves and the world.
Processes of change as in therapy and learning has the potential to support and guide our way in a complex world and open up more understanding of the essence of what it is to be human in our interactions.
Maria Sandgren is a reg psychologist and has a PhD in psychology. She is running a private practice since 1997. She has been working as an assistant professor/senior lecturer in psychology at Stockholm University and Södertörn University, Sweden.
She participated in the first ISTDP core training (2012-2015) in Sweden, led by Professor Allan Abbas, Canada, and MSW Jon Frederickson, USA. Continued with ISTDP advanced training (2021-2022) with Professor Allan Abbas and Dr Joel Town, Clinical Psychologist, Canada.
Over the years, she has incorporated psychological findings on learning, language, emotions, social collaboration, and stress/trauma research into her therapeutic work.
She has conducted research on music and political psychology, exploring the factors behind artistic performance and values, as well as the values and motives underlying political orientation, including equality.
She found that her extensive teaching experience in psychology and her scientific work have contributed to a broader perspective on the human being than clinical psychology only could offer.
Maria masters Swedish and English fluently and speaks French and German modestly, yet she reads and listens well. She lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.
She combines fine art photography with writing poems and texts. She has created an online course platform on photography and aesthetic psychology for photographers interested in developing their artistic practice, together with Hanna Goldstein, a multidisciplinary artist working in photography and living in Berlin, Germany.
(C) Maria Sandgren Psychological Forum Sweden 2025
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