Dr Erlend Slettevold

Hi! I’m Erlend and I’m a Clinical Psychologist.

I studied Psychology at the University of Bergen, Norway, for one year before moving to the UK in 2014 to study psychology at the University of Essex. During my undergraduate and masters degree in Essex, I frequently travelled back to Norway to work as an Assistant in a forensic psychiatric ward where I worked with people with a variety of different experiences and difficulties.

After this, I trained to be a Clinical Psychologist at the University of East Anglia for three years. During my clinical training I worked in a range of different settings, including work with children with learning disabilities and their families, youths, adults and older adults. I have really enjoyed my journey to become a Clinical Psychologist and look forward to working in this role in the years to come.

I believe in providing you with a safe and confidential space and help you feel like you can express yourself. I will be guided by your pace and values to help you work towards living a more fulfilling life. I also place great importance on being genuine and honest when working with people. 

In the first session, I would like to get to know you and learn about what you would like to gain from therapy. I believe that spending some time on forming a positive therapeutic relationship is helpful at the start as well as throughout the therapy process. I will be interested in hearing about your experiences and explore these with you in a warm and supportive way.

My training has mainly been focused on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Systemic Therapy, and Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). However, I often draw from several different therapy models when working with people, integrating them to suit the needs of the person or family I’m working with. The approach I take will therefore depend on what a person or family hopes to gain from working with me, what their values and strengths are, and their own preferences.

The work I do with people can help them improve their quality of life in different ways. Some may work with me towards improving their mood and/or reducing their anxiety.

Others may struggle in their relationships and work with me to reflect on reasons for why this might be and how change can be achieved. I tend to collaboratively set goals with people in order for the therapy to be focused on working together to achieve these.

In my free time I enjoy reading while I’m at home. However, I tend to collect more books than I’m actually able to get through!

I love martial arts and currently do fencing once a week. And yes, while watching ‘the princess bride’ I do jump up to act out the scenes as they happen in the film. I have also picked up fishing again which used to be my favourite thing to do during my childhood in Norway, and now I’m ‘hooked’ again.

“Erlend is an exceptional therapist, and it is no overstatement to say he has been lifechanging in his approach and support he has provided.​

I had issues which were extremely personal and traumatic for me to discuss. Erlend demonstrated patience, understanding and an empathy which made my concerns feel valid, and allowed me to open up fully during sessions. Following just 3 months of therapy I am in a much more positive place in my life than I was prior to therapy: a place I would not have thought possible just a few short months ago.

​Erlend focussed and tailored his approach based on my needs. As a clinician, he has shared information on his thought process (at an appropriate level) and involved me in decisions throughout. ​

I’m incredibly grateful for the care and support Erlend has provided. He has equipped me with tools to tackle challenges in my life, and attending sessions with him has been one of the most impactful decisions I have taken in my life to date.”