Obituary: Lena Norman 1944 - 2003

Lena Norman has died at the age of 59 after a period of illness. The close members of her family were her life-companion Jocke, her three sons Axel, Elias and Hannes and her grand-daughter Elisia

After finishing her studies at Solna Highschool, Lena qualified as a psychologist in the 1960s at Stockholm University. She worked for a couple of years within the leading human-resources-management organization in Sweden at the time, “PA-rådet”, before starting her further training in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis to become a member of the Swedish Psychoanalytic Society. She subsequently also qualified as a child psychoanalyst.

Lena's intelligence and personal integrity in combination with her professional skill made her a highly valued scholar with a recognized, sound judgement. She was highly esteemed among colleagues in the mental health field, and was in great demand for various qualified commissions. She worked at the Danderyd and Ersta Psychiatric Clinics, and during the last 15 years of her life, was a faculty member at the Stockholm County Council Institute of Psychotherapy. In addition, for many years, Lena was active at the Institute of the Swedish Psychoanalytic Society, at first in the Supervising Committee, and following that, in the Child Psychoanalytic Committee.

Lena was an outstanding clinician engaged both in psychotherapy and in psychoanalysis. At the Institute of Psychotherapy, she was often asked to function as supervisor of difficult cases. She will be remembered with gratitude by many students from different psychotherapy training courses. She had a special capability of being calmly and actively listening, which made her patients and pupils feel respected. Many have testified to how Lena's attitude stimulated refl ection. Her faith in the other's own ability stimulated development.

We who had the privilege of being Lena's fiends and colleagues could enjoy her prudence, warmth and straightforwardness. We called on her for advice in small as well as in