Psychologist Anna Valdimarsdóttir dies aged 78

Psychologist Anna Valdimarsdóttir has died at 78, mbl.is reports. She died at Landspítali hospital in Reykjavík on 9 October.

Born in Reykjavík on 25 June 1948, Valdimarsdóttir was the daughter of book publisher Valdimar Jóhannsson and Ingunn Ásgeirsdóttir, who worked in the home and in publishing. She attended Austurbæjarskóli and Kvennaskólinn, completed her matriculation examination at Reykjavík Junior College, and earned a BA in psychology and library science from the University of Iceland. She later completed a cand.psych. degree at the University of Oslo and pursued postgraduate psychology studies at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Her work included positions at the University Library in Iceland, Gothenburg’s main library and her father’s publishing company. She was managing director of Iðunn, translated books and received Reykjavík’s translation award in 1974 for Jósefína. She also edited Halla Linker’s book Uppgjör konu, published in 1987.

After returning from postgraduate study in the United States, Valdimarsdóttir opened a psychology practice in 1982. She later focused her popular self-empowerment courses on women. She taught part-time at the University of Iceland and its continuing education programme, and was director of studies for specialist training in cognitive behavioural therapy. She gave lectures in Iceland and abroad on self-empowerment, mindfulness, relationships and love, including talks with Reverend Bragi Skúlason.

Her books included the poetry collection Úlfabros (1997), Leggðu rækt við sjálfan þig (1999), Leggðu rækt við ástina (2001) and Hugrækt og hamingja (2014). She also wrote articles and pamphlets and created the educational programme Undir sama þaki.

Valdimarsdóttir served on the boards of the Icelandic Psychological Association, the Association of Health Professionals and the Icelandic Sexology Association. She was a founding member and the first chair of Alúð, an association for mindfulness and alert attention, and also served on the board of the Icelandic Theosophical Society. She chaired the Icelandic Hypnosis Association, an organisation for professionals working in hypnosis.

She is survived by her sons Valdimar Sverrisson, Jón Helgi Jónsson and Jóhann Páll Jónsson, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her funeral will be held at Háteigskirkja church on 22 October at 1 p.m.