Hi, I’m Rossana Pettersén, PhD
“I provide state-of-the-art psychotherapy through the lens of science, compassion and multicultural understanding”
With over 20+ years of experience, I’m a highly qualified Schema therapist, clinical psychologist and lecturer working in Stockholm. By integrating the latest scientific research into therapy sessions, I deliver a highly personalised treatment to help you understand yourself and others more deeply, build healthy relationships, cope with difficulties in healthy ways and live a life in flow.
Accredited and active member of the International Society of Schema Therapy and the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy
Registered full member of the International Society of Schema Therapy #71778385
I provide therapy in english or spanish:
individual therapy
Anxiety or panic attacks that feel hard to control
Depression, emotional numbness, or a loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy
Burnout and exhaustion, especially common in fast-paced work environments
Low self-esteem, shame, impostor syndrome, or feeling “not good enough”
Grief after loss or separation
Trauma—recent or from childhood—that still lingers
Relationship difficulties and attachment wounds
A general sense of being stuck, disconnected, or lost
Mood swings
Difficulties setting boundaries
Self-sabotage
Victim of narcissistic/abusive parents, partners, bosses, etc.
Victim of emotional neglect
Life crises
Sensitivity to rejection and abandonment
And more…
mediation for couples
Co-parenting after separation
Child custody
Decision to start fertility treatment
Decision to adopt a child
Decision to open the relationship
Revealing chronic disease
Communicating your will to change gender
Revealing “dark secrets” to your partner
Inheritance disputes
Decoupling after the decision to separate
Parenting differences
Expat life disagreements
Couples therapy
Communication problems
Unhealthy patterns like constant arguments, stonewalling, blaming the other, constant criticism
Affairs, betrayal and infidelity
Loss of intimacy
Constant invalidation or having your emotional needs ignored by your partner
Disconnection “Losing the spark”
Strained relationships with in-laws
Transition to parenthood
Empty nest
Healthy decoupling, separation or divorce
Difficulties to de-escalate problems
Jealousy and trust issues
Feeling detached from each other
Perceived lack of empathy from your partner
Feelings of loneliness or rejection in the relationship
Imbalance in the emotional labour
Re-activation of old emotional wounds or attachment styles in your relationship
And more…
body focused therapy
Body focused Schema Therapy, also called somatic work in schema therapy, is a powerful and compassionate individual therapy that combines the psychological depth of Schema Therapy with body-based techniques.
It is helpful when traditional therapy hasn’t quite reached the places where emotional pain still lingers.
Based on the Polyvagal approach (Porges 2017) and Somatic experiencing (Levine, 1997)
Recommended to clients who have experienced trauma, Complex PTSD, attachment wounds (being emotionally neglected as a child, feeling unsafe, unseen or unloved in early relationships)
Recommended to clients that notice that their bodies hold anxiety, shame, guilt, pain and other strong emotions
NOT recommended for clients who are in an acute crisis (risk of harm to self or others), experience severe dissociation, or that have limited body awareness.
My fees
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Free introductory session
You are very welcome to book a free ONLINE introductory session (30 minutes) with me. In this session you will have space to describe what brings you to therapy and ask questions. I will explain my therapeutic approaches and give you some insights. This is a gentle starting point to make sure you feel comfortable, informed and supported.
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Individual therapy
1,350 SEK
55 minutes. In-person or online
A therapy session offers a calm and confidential space to reflect, understand, and explore your experiences, emotions, and patterns always at a pace that feels comfortable and respectful.
The goal is to support greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and lasting change. Every session is a step toward a deeper understanding of yourself and a more balanced, fulfilling life.
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Couples therapy
1,500 SEK
60 minutes. In-person or online
Using evidence-based approaches such as Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples and Schema Therapy, I help you understand recurring patterns, heal emotional distance, communication blocks, and rebuild trust and intimacy. Whether you want to resolve conflicts or deepen your bond, therapy provides a safe place to grow together — with empathy, understanding, and professional guidance.
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Body focused schema therapy
1,450 SEK
60 minutes. In person
Powerful and compassionate therapy that combines the psychological depth of Schema Therapy with gentle but powerful somatic techniques. It’s especially helpful when traditional talking therapy hasn’t quite reached the places where emotional pain still lingers. Recommended to clients who have experienced trauma, Complex PTSD, attachment wounds (being emotionally neglected as a child, feeling unsafe, unseen or unloved in early relationships) or who are holding a lot of anxiety, shame, guilt, anger in their bodies.
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Mediation
1,500 SEK (no transcripts) or 2,300 SEK (including transcripts sent to both parts)
60 minutes. In-person
My mediation service offers a respectful and well structured space to help couples and families navigate important life decisions with clarity and care. Whether you’re discussing adoption, child custody, separation, open relationship agreements, revealing gender transition plans, cultural or intergenerational conflicts and more, mediation provides a neutral and supportive process that fosters understanding, collaboration, and emotional safety. I help you reach balanced agreements that honour everyone’s needs and values.
You are most welcome to my practice
Artillerigatan 38 (T-Östermalmstorg) Stockholm or Online via Zoom
My path
“Let me gently help you to unweave what no longer serves you, so you can live more freely, more fully, as your truest self”
I’ve always being fascinated by the inner strength of people. Resilience after disasters, personal growth after trauma, persistence after failure, forgiveness in victims of abuse and adaptability to changing circumstances, to name a few ways in which we humans are admirable.
This fascination led me to a life-long quest to learn everything I can about human psychology and psychotherapy. My own path includes more than 4 years of own therapy, silent retreats, volunteering in remote areas, 8 years of scientific research in academia, and a daily practice of mindfulness meditation which prevails today.
After my doctoral dissertation, I decided to work in Clinical practice and furthered my education to become a psychotherapist. In my work with individual clients, I chose to specialise in Schema therapy and for Couples, I specialised in Emotion Focused Therapy.
In every session, I bring together evidence-based treatments, deep empathy, and practical tools to help you heal from the past and create a more fulfilling future. Whether you're struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or relationship issues, my approach is always rooted in compassion, collaboration, and the belief that real change is possible.
credentials
BSc Psychology (Peru)
MSc Clinical psychology (Peru)
MSc Suicide Prevention at Karolinska Institute, Sweden
PhD in Medical Science - Psychology, at Karolinska Institute
Schema Therapy, Swedish Institute for CBT and Schema Therapy
Schema therapist certification, Dutch institute for Schema therapy
Emotionally focused therapy for couples certification, Stockholm EFT Center
Body-focused techniques and somatic interventions in psychotherapy. Part 1, Part 2 and part 3. ISST accredited certification at the Schema therapy School, London
Publications
Co-author of the Oxford Textbook of Suicide Prevention. A global perspective. Oxford University press. 2009
Co-author of the book Postvention in action. Hogrefe. 2017
and 4 scientific articles
testimonials