SPECTROVISIO - Ulla Halkola 

I am a psychotherapist and photographer. I have worked during the years 1989-2011 as an education coordinator at the University of Turku. I planned courses in the fields of psychotherapy, mental health, health-promoting and organizational development. Since 2000 I have been interested in phototherapy. I have been a member in a group where we trained and developed phototherapy methods for psychotherapists and counselors. I have also worked as a psychotherapist in private practice and have used phototherapy methods with my clients in therapy.
I am one of the founding members and the first Chairperson (2004-06) of the Finnish Phototherapy association. I am also a member of the Finnish Photo Artist Union and the Photography Centre PERI.
I have created a photo card series named Spectro Cards for therapy, counseling and teaching. They are classic phototherapy cards in Finland and also in other countries. 

Freelance phototherapy trainer since 2012.

SPECTRO CARDS

The Spectro cards series includes 60  photographs which are suitable for teaching purposes and for counseling and therapeutic use in individual and group sessions.
These associative Spectro cards captivate imagination, expose feelings and stimulate free interaction, and furthermore, promote storytelling. Basically, there are no limitations or restrictions in using the Spectro cards, but it is essential that the instructor makes clear target and framing questions in the beginning of the session. It is also essential to keep in mind that the evoked associations are subjective interpretations and therefore there is no right or wrong interpretation or truth in these associations. The interpretations, individualism and privacy of the participants must always be respected. 

With the Spectro cards it is possible to:
S earch Essential Emotions - Emotional work and emphatic resonance
P ortray Experiences - Portray your experiences and memories
E xplore, Analyze and Define
C reate - Create something new
T ell Stories - Story telling
R ealize Visions
O bserve, Learn and Find New Perspectives

Francesca Belgiojoso interviews Ulla Halkola about Spectrocards, June 2024

Francesca: "These cards facilitate deeper self-exploration and communication by allowing individuals and groups to project personal feelings and experiences onto the images. The visual nature of the cards helps to bypass verbal barriers, making it easier for clients to express complex emotions and inner thoughts, thus enriching the therapeutic process."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjBRS0J2PJ4

INTERNATIONAL  EVENTS
International Conference on Phototherapy and Therapeutic Photography, June 2008, Turku
University of Turku, The Finnish Phototherapy Association, Turku Arts Academy, Center of Photogaphy Peri.
Phototherapyeurope – Learning and Healing with Phototherapy, February 2011.
University of Turku, The Finnish Phototherapy Association,
Roehampton University UK, Lucca Mental Health Care Centre, Italy.
Selfportrait Extended – Symposium and exhibition. Turku Finland, June 2014.
The Finnish Phototherapy Association, I am we_interactive image-network,
University of Turku, Turku Arts Academy, Center of Photogaphy Peri.

International Therapeutic Photography Symposium - Phenomenological Phototherapy  2024, Robert Gordon University, Edinbourgh

Tulossa:  International Bibliotherapy Congress 10/2025, Jyväskylä University

International workshops 2009-2017
Lectures and workshops in London, Brighton, Firenze, Lucca, Bolsena, Perugia, Barcelona,  Wien, Ljubliana, Izmir, Soul,  St Petersburg, Moscow,  Tallinn, Tarto, Riga, Tarto and  Riga.

PHOTHERAPY MATERIALS

Phototherapyeurope - EU-project Handbook, 2011
Spectro Cards Handbook, 2011
Self Portrait - Keynote lecture, 2016
Spectro Mandala
Spectro Wellbeing Flower

Copyright Ulla Halkola