EQ Institute

What EQ Institute does

EQ Institute is a Norwegian private for-profit therapeutic institution founded on June 7, 2006, by Herdis Palsdottir and Dora Thorhallsdottir — both trained family therapists from the Kempler Institute in Denmark. The company delivers emotional intelligence (EQ) education and therapy through a multi-tiered curriculum spanning a 3-year part-time EQ-terapeut certification program, a 1-year EQ-kompetanse course, the 2–4 session EQ-utvikling program, a specialized EQ-mann course for men, weekend helgekurs workshops, and a kindergarten certification track (EQ-barnehage). The proprietary methodology is built on the 'inner child' framework, processing unprocessed childhood emotional experiences, and uses the 'innmelding' practice — real-time sharing of current emotions — as the core group-learning mechanic. The organization also publishes four books authored by Palsdottir and Hanne Hjertaas and offers individual EQ-terapi. Operations are delivered in person at four Norwegian campuses (Oslo headquarters, Bergen, Stavanger, and the newly opened Trondheim location branded 'Følelsesrommet') and digitally via Microsoft Teams.

The business is primarily direct-to-consumer with a modest B2B layer through kindergarten certification. Three revenue streams are evident: (1) course and education fees — the dominant source, anchored by the kr 13,500/year EQ-kompetanse course and the multi-year EQ-terapeut tuition; (2) event and workshop fees, including kr 250 introductory EQ-kveld evenings, kr 4,300 weekend helgekurs, and the kr 1,800 annual EQ-barnehagekonferansen; and (3) book and digital course sales through the eqi.no webshop at kr 280–400 per book. Customer acquisition is event-driven — free introductory evenings and information meetings held across all four cities generate leads, supplemented by the Relasjonspodden podcast, Facebook and Instagram presence, newsletter, and word-of-mouth (the enrollment form explicitly tracks referral source). Primary customer segments are adults seeking personal development, aspiring EQ therapists, kindergarten staff and leadership, and men seeking a male-focused emotional intelligence environment.

EQ Institute is a founder-led lifestyle-scale education business operating with 1–10 employees, no disclosed external funding, no parent company, and no public listing. The 20-year operating history, published book catalog, and 4-city physical footprint constitute the brand assets, while the founders' Kempler Institute credentials anchor the methodology. The Trondheim launch (first EQ-terapeut cohort January 2027), EQ-kompetanse digital rollout via Microsoft Teams, and EQ-mann product introduction indicate measured, organic expansion rather than venture-backed scaling.

Name

EQ Institute

Legal name

EQ Institute

Website

https://eqi.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

EQ Institute is a Norwegian private therapeutic institution founded in 2006 that delivers emotional intelligence education and therapy across four Norwegian cities. Its core offering is a 3-year EQ-therapist certification, supported by 1-year courses, weekend workshops, and published books.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Education and Personal Development

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDABAMAD

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) & Self-Awareness

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Soft Skills Development

SECONDARYEDAKAMAE

Behavioral Health & MTSS/RTI Tiered SEL Supports

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Mental Health Supports (School-Based)

Keywords

• Emotional intelligence training
• EQ therapy services
• Therapist certification programs
• Personal development courses
• Kindergarten emotional intelligence

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Course and Education Fees: EQ Institute's primary revenue stream comes from tuition and course fees for its educational programs. Programs include the 3-year part-time EQ-terapeut education, the 1-year EQ-kompetanse course, the EQ-utvikling course (2-4 weekend sessions), and the EQ-mann course. Fees are charged per course or per module/semester.
2. Event and Workshop Fees: Revenue from EQ-kveld (introductory evenings priced at kr 250), weekend courses (helgekurs), and the annual EQ-barnehagekonferansen conference (kr 1,800). These are one-time or recurring event-based fees.
3. Book and Product Sales: EQ Institute operates a webshop selling books authored by Herdis Palsdottir and Hanne Hjertaas, including titles 'Relasjoner', 'Relasjoner med barn', 'Egenkjærlighet', and 'Den undervurderte barndommen', priced from kr 280-400. Digital courses (nettkurs) are also sold through the webshop.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EQ Institute is a Norwegian therapeutic institution that delivers emotional intelligence (EQ) education and therapy services. Its core offerings include the three-year part-time EQ-terapeut certification, a one-year EQ-kompetanse relational competence course (with a digital Teams-based variant), short weekend workshops (EQ-utvikling and helgekurs), a male-focused EQ-mann program, individual EQ therapy, and the EQ-barnehage certification program for kindergartens. Courses are delivered in-person across four Norwegian cities and online, and the organization also operates a webshop selling books authored by the founders.

Product overview

EQ Institute offers a comprehensive portfolio of emotional intelligence (EQ) education and therapy services. The core offerings include: the 3-year EQ-terapeut education program for becoming certified EQ therapists; the 1-year EQ-kompetanse course and its digital equivalent (EQ-kompetanse digital) for personal relational development; the EQ-utvikling course for deeper personal work; the specialized EQ-mann course for men; and EQ-kveld introductory evenings across multiple Norwegian cities. EQ Institute also operates a certification program for kindergartens (EQ-barnehage), provides individual therapy services (EQ-terapi), and publishes books by Herdis Palsdottir including Relasjoner, Egenkjærlighet, Den undervurderte barndommen, and Relasjoner med barn. The organization operates campuses in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Trondheim, with courses starting at various times throughout the year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EQ-terapi: Three-year part-time education program to become an EQ therapist
• EQ-kompetanse
• EQ-kompetanse digital
• EQ-utvikling
• EQ-mann
• EQ-barnehage
• EQ-kveld
• Følelsesrommet

Products and services

• EQ-terapeut (EQ Therapy Education) A three-year part-time education program that trains participants to become certified EQ therapists, equipping them to apply EQ therapy techniques in private practice or within their existing professional roles. Available in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and (from January 2027) Trondheim.
• EQ-kompetanse A one-year course (10 sessions) focused on developing relational competence and emotional intelligence for adults seeking personal growth and better relationships. Delivered in Oslo, Bergen, and digitally.
• EQ-kompetanse digital An online version of the EQ-kompetanse course delivered via Microsoft Teams with 10 web-based sessions for participants who prefer remote learning.
• EQ-utvikling A personal development course spanning 2-4 weekend sessions in Stavanger (and Oslo/Bergen) designed for deeper emotional work, helping participants process life experiences, re-evaluate personal truths, and find their own answers in a supportive group environment.
• EQ-mann A specialized course for men focused on emotional intelligence development, led by male EQ therapists and providing a male-only environment to process emotions, improve communication, and build stronger relationships.
• EQ-kveld (EQ Evening) Introductory evening events held across four Norwegian cities where prospective students can experience EQ Institute's teaching style, learn about course offerings, and ask questions of experienced EQ therapists.
• EQ-barnehage Certification A certification program for kindergartens that trains staff in emotional intelligence, providing a framework for early childhood emotional development through specially trained adults and certifying that a kindergarten has integrated EQ principles into its practices.
• EQ-terapi (Individual Therapy) Therapeutic services delivered by certified EQ therapists to help individuals process difficult experiences and develop a healthier relationship with themselves, enabling more joy in everyday life.
• Helgekurs med EQ-terapi (Weekend Course) An intensive two-day weekend course in EQ therapy held in Oslo and led by founders Dora Thorhallsdottir and Herdis Palsdottir, offering participants direct experience with EQ therapy in a safe group setting.
• EQ-barnehagekonferansen (Kindergarten Conference) An annual inspiration day conference in Oslo for employees of EQ-certified kindergartens and others passionate about relational competence and emotional intelligence, priced at kr 1,800 per person with group pricing for parties over 7.
• Relasjoner (Relationships Book) A book by Herdis Palsdottir providing thoughts and practical tools for developing honest relationships with oneself and others, addressing how to interact respectfully without hurting or belittling others.
• Egenkjærlighet (Self-love Book) A book by Herdis Palsdottir and Hanne Hjertaas exploring what self-love is, why it matters, and how to develop greater self-compassion through emotional intelligence.
• Den undervurderte barndommen (The Undervalued Childhood Book) A book by Herdis Palsdottir examining how childhood experiences shape adults, offering tools to develop honest and loving relationships with oneself and others.
• Relasjoner med barn (Relationships with Children Book) A book by Herdis Palsdottir with a foreword by Jesper Juul, providing concrete tools for meeting children in an equitable but not equal manner, focusing on emotional intelligence in child relationships.

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants report significant improvements in self-understanding, emotional regulation, and relationship quality
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TalentSmartEQ (TalentSmart): TalentSmartEQ specializes in emotional intelligence assessments and training for professionals and teams, sharing EQ Institute's positioning around measurable EQ development rather than general therapy.
• Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute: SIYLI delivers mindfulness and emotional intelligence leadership programs to individuals and organizations; its focus on structured EQ training and leadership outcomes closely mirrors EQ Institute's EQ-kompetanse and EQ-mann offerings.
• HeartMath Institute: HeartMath provides emotional intelligence and resilience training programs with a strong focus on personal development — closely paralleling EQ Institute's core methodology of building self-awareness and relational competence.

Broad incumbents

• Dale Carnegie Training: Dale Carnegie offers long-running soft-skills, leadership, and interpersonal-relations training to individuals and enterprises globally; it competes for the same leadership/communication audience but with a much broader portfolio.
• BetterUp: BetterUp is a digital coaching and emotional-intelligence platform serving enterprises and individuals; it addresses the same self-development and leadership outcomes but via a scalable tech-enabled coaching model.
• FranklinCovey: FranklinCovey provides leadership, EQ, and organizational effectiveness training and content, overlapping with EQ Institute's leadership and relational-competence focus but at much greater scale.
• LinkedIn Learning: LinkedIn Learning offers large-scale online professional development including soft-skills and leadership content, competing for the same self-directed learners as EQ Institute's EQ-kompetanse digital offering.

Regional players

• Mindfulness Norge: Mindfulness Norge offers mindfulness-based courses and teacher training across Norway, targeting a similar audience of adults seeking emotional and relational skills development through structured group programs.
• Attundaliv: Attundaliv is a Norwegian psychotherapy and personal-development provider offering courses and therapy to Norwegian adults, directly overlapping with EQ Institute's individual-therapy and personal-development positioning in the same domestic market.

Others

• Kempler Institute: Kempler Institute is the Danish family-therapy training institution that founded EQ Institute's methodology; it is not a direct competitor but represents the upstream credentialing lineage and a related therapeutic tradition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eqinstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/eqinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eq-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EQ Institute