Kjerstin Almqvist

Kjerstin Almqvist is a Professor of Medical Psychology at Karlstad University, affiliated with the Department of Psychology within the Faculty of Economic Sciences, Communication and IT. Her research focuses on trauma in children, particularly those exposed to intimate partner violence, and evaluates interventions for affected families. She has published extensively on topics including child mental health, refugee trauma, and forensic psychiatric care.

Her work emphasizes clinical interventions such as Child-Parent Psychotherapy and group-based programs for mothers exposed to violence. She collaborates with healthcare providers and social workers to improve service delivery in Sweden. Key contributions include developing assessment tools for patient participation in forensic care and studying the psychosocial development of refugee children.

• Over 50 peer-reviewed publications from 1989 to 2025
• Active in program evaluation for violence prevention and trauma treatment
• Contributed to national guidelines for supporting children exposed to domestic violence

Recent research trends show continued emphasis on qualitative studies exploring caregiver and counselor experiences, as well as longitudinal evaluations of intervention outcomes. Her work bridges clinical practice and policy, with implications for healthcare systems and social services in trauma-informed care.