Commemorative Words: Former chief psychologist Lise Rafaelsen, Gentofte, August 11th 1931- November 18th 2025

Lise Rafaelsen died at the age of 94. She lived a rich an full life until later years.

She was one of the pioneers of the application of clinical psychology to psychiatry and expanded its teritory.

She had a wide international outlook. Took new thoughts and ideas into  Danish psychiatry at the time of unrest and upheaval of the 1970s and 1980s.

Where democratisation of psychiatry and a changed view on how to perceive patients and psychic diseases took place so, that psychological and social factors came to play a much bigger role. Lise was inspired by the thinking  behind  the therapeutic society and was active in creating the first of its kind in Denmark.

Also the relationship between psyche and soma had her interest. As chief psychologist of the psychiatric department Gentofte she established a co-operation with the department of heart surgery in order to study the psychological reactions of patients who had undergone heart operations.

The area however where she had the biggest impact, was that she, together with consultant psychiarist Ebbe Linnemann, established a training programme in  group analysis. She took contact with leading groupanalists in London and invited them to Denmark to organize the group analytic workshop, that with time should develop into the Institute of Group Analysis Copenhagen.

Lise was the first leader of the Institute. Several hundred psychologists and Psychiatrist and other professionals  have trained here. The Institute had for many years a great influence on the thinkning and the milieu in psychiatric departments. She had the capacity to make contacts and create networks.

Lise had special way, a charm and sweetness which made an impression and together wifh her professionl competence  made her esteemed and respected nationally and internationally. Even years after she stopped working there were always greetings to take home for her from congresses and other scientific events.

For her great contribution to group analysis she is appointed honorary member of the Group Analytic Society London.