bio

Sara Ekenstierna

Dr Sara Ekenstierna is an interdisciplinary scholar focused on the interface of philosophy, science, and creativity. Her research interests include philosophy of psychology, metaphysics, mindset research, mind-body relations and therapeutic relationships.

Sara is the founder of Ekenstierna Psykologkonsult and Oakstar Coaching & Consulting. She is a licensed psychologist in Sweden. Sara has nearly twenty years of experience in the philosophy and application of psychodynamic principles of practice, underpinned by existential thought. She worked in psychiatry for 5 years and has since 2011 specialized in short-term dynamic psychotherapies, mainly through private practice, with contracts through Kris- och Trauma Centrum and Region Skane, and collaborations with several other large clinics, including INM Psykiatrisk Mottagning.

Sara has undertaken training and masterclasses in short-term dynamic psychotherapies with Jon Frederickson, Patricia Coughlin Della Selva, Susan Warren Warshow, as well as the legendary Swedish psychoanalyst Ulla Bejerholm Hansen. She is also experienced in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), having trained with JoAnne Dahl and Tobias Lundgren. She has held workshops based on ACT, focused on personal and professional development. Additionally, Sara is experienced in organizational psychology and leadership development. She was employed by PAT Management from 2007, and then proceeded as a consultant for the firm through Ekenstierna Psykologkonsult. Clients included major companies like Skanska AB and Swedbank.

Sara has a PhD in Philosophy from University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where she was a recipient of the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. She has a Master of Science in Psychology from Lund University in Sweden and was a visiting student at University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. Additionally, she has studied Gender Science at Malmo University in Sweden.

Sara was a columnist for the popular Swedish professional magazine Psykologtidningen. Her work is also published in Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, Journal of Humanistic Psychology, and Blog of American Philosophical Association. She is a frequent speaker at conferences and a member of American Psychological Association, American Philosophical Association, Institute of Noetic Sciences, International Expressive Arts Therapy Association, and The International Society for the Science of Existential Psychology.

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