CV

Norwegian Psychologists Specializing in Children Affected by War, Immigration, and Poverty I am a PhD holder and Clinical Psychologist experienced in initiating, creating, implementing, evaluating, and leading social and behavioral protection and change programs for children and adolescents. I have a proven track record in delivering positive mental health and well-being outcomes in fragile contexts and across economic divides.

Psychologists Specializing in Children Affected by War, Immigration, and Poverty.

I am a PhD holder and Clinical Psychologist experienced in initiating, creating, implementing, evaluating, and leading social and behavioral protection and change programs. I have a proven track record in delivering positive mental health and well-being outcomes in fragile contexts and across economic divides.

Languages: Excellent in English and Norwegian, and I find my way in Swahili (A2), French (B1), and Arabic (A2).

WORK EXPERIENCES

2017 – present	Happy Helping Hand in Lebanon and Jordan. The Syrian American Medical Association (SAMS) implemented The Helping Hand, a blended learning psychosocial program for adolescents, in Lebanon and Jordan, followed by research. I oversaw the implementation and guided the cultural adaptation of the program, led the research, trained the facilitators who first implemented it, and developed a trainer-of-trainers´ manual so that SAMS can now independently upscale the program for Arabic adolescents.
2023 - present	Uhuru Mama Collective. A handcraft and advocacy project for 35 mothers of children with disabilities at Uhuru Mchanganyiko Primary School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I initiated and facilitated the collective, made it into a Tanzanian NGO, and now work to ensure its sustainability and scale up the initiative.
2023 – 2024	The Helping Hand for Ukrainian Adolescents. I oversaw cultural adaptation, trained psychosocial staff, and assisted in evaluating the program's impact and feasibility when the Norwegian Church Aid and HEKS/EPER Ukraine and Romania provided social and emotional training for Ukrainian adolescents during the war.
2024	Health Literacy Course at OUT. I led the development of a health literacy course for students to be implemented by the Open University of Tanzania. In addition to leading the process of creating the whole course, I had a special responsibility for the mental health part. Funded by NOREC. January - June.
2024	Plain language course for local staff at The Norwegian Embassy in Tanzania. A project where I developed, implemented, and evaluated workshops on plain language, the result led to improved communication and better services.
2018 – 2022	The Happy Helping Hand App. In this project, a digital game to prevent mental health disorders and increase the well-being of adolescents across economic, religious, and national divides was developed in collaboration with end-users in Lebanon and Norway. It was funded by NORAD via Innovation Norway and developed. I initiated the project together with Gyldendal and Attensi, secured funds, and was responsible for the content.
2018 – 2020	Bærumbarn tør! The project reduced anxiety in children through early intervention group-based cognitive behavioral therapy. I secured grants, developed the program, trained facilitators, and evaluated its impact. Implemented by Bærum County in nine schools while funded by The Norwegian Health Directory.
2017 – 2019	The Helping Hand Program for Syrian Refugees. This Lebanon-based project for psychosocial relief and social-emotional learning for children 8-12 was initiated in collaboration with Dar El Fatwa Relief and implemented by MAPS and SAMS, Lebanon. I led the development, implementation, and impact evaluation of these analog psychosocial programs for children 4 – 18 years.
2011 – 2015 2007 - present	The Psychological First Aid Kit in Children´s House in Oslo. I secured a research grant and taught staff at Children's House, a haven for child abuse victims and crime witnesses, to use a psychosocial program I developed and studied its impact as part of my PhD. The Norwegian Research Council and The Norwegian Health Directory funded it. I initiated, developed, implemented, and secured funding for The Helping Hand (Psykologisk Førstehjelp,) a program now widely adopted in schools and school health systems to promote well-being and prevent mental health disorders in children and adolescents in Norway.
2004 – 2020	Training Cognitive Therapists. I developed and conducted workshops and provided supervision for CBT professionals. Additionally, I developed and led two week-long writing professional writing seminars.
2000 – 2013	Clinical Psychologist at Voss Hospital, Norway. I provided cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to patients of all ages and diagnoses and supervised newer psychologists, local schools, and the local primary health and child welfare system.
1999 – 2000	Clinical Psychologist at Sør-Trøndelag Psychiatric Hospital, Norway. As a new psychologist at the outdoor clinic, I treated patients with various diagnoses, gaining experience in diverse therapeutic settings and working closely with a multidisciplinary team.

EDUCATION AND FORMAL TRAINING
2014 – 2018	PhD, University of Bergen and University of Michigan
2000 – 2004	Specialist Training for Clinical Psychologists, Norwegian Psychologist Association.
2000 – 2004	Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Training and Supervision, The Norwegian Association for Cognitive Therapy, Norway.
1999 – 1992	Clinical Study of Psychology, University of Tromsø, Norway.

HONORS AND GRANTS

2024 - 2025	Grant from Deep Challange Tanzania
2018 – 2022	Grant from Innovation Norway and NORAD
2022	Youth Mental Health Challenge-reward by Uplink, World Economic Forum & UNICEF
2020 – 2022	Grant from Great Canada Challenges, with SAMS
2019	Nominated to be Citizen of the Year in Bergen
2018 – 2019	Grant from The Norwegian Health Directory, with Bærum
2016 – 2017	Overseas Scholarship, The Norwegian Research Council
2014 – 2017	PhD grant, The Norwegian Research Council
2014 – 2015	Aersonal grant from Extrastiftelsen
2014	Aersonal grant from Kavlifondet
2011 – 2013	A grant from The Norwegian Health Directory, with NORCE
2013	The Norwegian Psychology Association´s Aasa Gruda Skard´s grant
2012	Bergen University Hospital´s Prize for Innovation
2010	Personal grant from The Norwegian Association for Cognitive Therapy

POSITIONS, REPRESENTATION, AND VOLUNTARY WORK
2023 – present	Facilitating Uhuru Mama Collective, Tanzania
2019 – 2023	Representing Norway in EFPA, Board of Prevention and Promotion
2020 – 2022	Board member of Reaching Across Borders
2019 – 2022	Founding Crochet Community Collective
2016 – 2017	Board member of Association for Intercultural Psychology, The Norwegian Psychology Association
2013 – 2018	Representing Norway in Low-intensity CBT in EABCT
2004 – 2017	Board member of The Norwegian Association for Cognitive Therapy

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Raknes, S., Townsend, D., Ghostine, C., Hammoud, M. (2024). Expanding access to mental health: Evaluating the potential of a severe mental health game for adolescents. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2023.0688
Raknes, S., Al-Khayat, A., & Schuler, B. (2024). Digitalized social and emotional learning and better well-being among displaced Syrian adolescents in Lebanon. International Journal of Mental Health, 53(3), 288–315. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207411.2024.2377825
Raknes, S., & Chorna, T. (2024). The Helping Hand in Ukraine: feasibility and potential impact.Pilot and Feasibility Studies 10, 96. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01520-5
Wergeland, G.J.H., Haaland, A.T., Fjermestad, K.W., Öst, L.G., Gjestad, R., Bjaastad, J.F., Hoffart, A., Husabo, E., Raknes, S. & Haugland, B.S.M. (2023). Predictors of school-based cognitive behavior therapy outcome for youth with anxiety, Behaviour Research and Therapy,https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796723001481
Schuler, B.R., & Raknes, S. (2022). Does group size and blending matter? Impact of a digital mental health game implemented with refugees in various settings. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 18, 83-94. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-07-2021-0060
Townsend, D., Raknes, S., & Hammoud, M. (2022). Psychosocial support for Syrian refugee youth: Comparing delivery modes of a digital mental health game. In S. Moeschberger & L. Miller-Graff (Eds.), Psychological Research on Violence Against Children: Towards Building Cultures of Peace. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Nordgreen, T., & Raknes, S. (2021). Veiledet selvhjelp og internettbehandling for barn og ungdom. In Martinsen & Hagen (Eds.), Håndbok i kognitiv atferdsterapi i behandling av barn og unge (kap. 17, s. 459-474). Oslo: Gyldendal.
Raknes, S., & Gjertsen, O.B. (2020). Kognitive tiltak - tilpasning til kultur og kontekst. In Berg & Holt (Eds.), Kultur og kontekst i praktisk psykologarbeid (kap. 12, s. 230-250). Oslo: Gyldendal.
S., Marki, Å., Leborg, S., & Næss, J. (2020). Jeg tør! Utprøving av et kort Psykologisk førstehjelps-basert kurs for engstelige skolebarn. Retrieved from http://www.forebygging.no/Artikler/2020/Jeg-tor/
Haugland, B., Håland, Å., Baste, V., Himle, J.A., Bjåstad, J.F., Hoffart, A., Rapee, R.M., Raknes, S., Husabø, E., & Wergeland, G.J (2020). Effectiveness of brief and standard school-based cognitive behavioral interventions for adolescents with anxiety: A randomized non-inferiority study. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Raknes, S., Dyregrov, K., Pallesen, S., Hoffart, A., Stormyren, S., Haugland, B.S.M. (2017). A pilot study of a low threshold, low-intensity CBT intervention for traumatized adolescents. Scandinavian Psychologist. 4, e8. https://doi.org/10.15714/scandpsychol.4.e8
Raknes, S., Pallesen, S., Bjaastad, J., Wergeland, G.J., Hoffart, A., Dyregrov, K., Håland, Å., Haugland, B.S.M. (2017). Negative Life Events, Social Support and Self-Efficacy in Anxious Adolescents. Psychological Reports. doi:10.1177/0033294117699820">doi:10.1177/0033294117699820
Raknes, S., Pallesen, S., Himle, J., Bjaastad, J.F., Wergeland, G.J., Hoffart, A., ... Haugland, B.S.M. (2017). Quality of life in anxious adolescents. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 11(33), 1-11.@
Raknes, Hansen, Cederkvist, Nordgaard (2017).Psykologisk førstehjelp i skole og skolehelsetjeneste. I Kvarme (red). Sårbare skolebarn. Bergen: Fagbokforlaget.
Raknes S, Johansen KW, Tørnes H, Håvardstun T (2016).Psykologisk kunnskap for barnehagebarn. Psykologi i kommunen,1, 45-53.
Raknes S (2007). Åtferdseksperiment som metode i behandling av sosial fobi. Tidsskrift for norsk psykologforening, 2, 139-147.

SEL Programs I have developed and implemented

Magic Mitten. https://magicmitten.org

Helping Hand. https://attensi.com/helping-hand/

Grønne tanker i Salaby. https://skole.salaby.no/1-2/gronne-tanker-glade-barn

Raknes, S (2014). Grønne tanker – glade barn. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk. 

Raknes, S (2014). Sint og glad i barnehagen. Oslo: Gyldendal. 

Raknes, S. (2010a). Psykologisk førstehjelp. Barn. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.

Raknes, S. (2010b). Psykologisk førstehjelp. Ungdom. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.

SELECTED LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS

2009 – 2024	Lectured extensively in all parts of the health, support, and school system in Norway; more than 300 workshops for clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, GPs, school health nurses, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and teachers.
2024	24. Oct, Key speaker at the Protection Workgroup Group, UNHCR Hungary: Magic Mitten, a toolkit to support children affected by war.
2024	Exploring the economic, social, and emotional impact of a cultural collective for caretakers of children with disabilities in Dar es Salaam. Conference presentation, UNICEF, Zanzibar, Tanzania ”Building brighter futures for children” (September 18-19, 2024).
2024	Presentation as a grant receiver at Deep Challenge, Tanzania: Exploring and Elevating the Socio-Economic Impacts of Mothers of Children with Disabilities: A Case Study of a Women's Cultural Collective in Dar es Salaam. September 26 2024, Dar es Salaam).
2017 - 2022	Lectured extensively in several NGOs in Lebanon.
2023	Speech at UNICEF Tanzania: Young Tanzanians Gaming for Mental Health?
2023	Training and supervising PSS workers to use the Helping Hand program in Romania and Ukraine.
2020 - 2023	Arranging and training community PSS workers in Norway in using the Helping Hand programs (digital training).
2022	Keynote speaker at Women´s International League for Peace and Freedom, webinar, Stop War. The Helping Hand for the Social and Emotional, Washington DC.
2021	Keynote speaker at Universidade dos Valores, Portugal. Overcoming Exclusion and Trauma: Rooting learning activities in fundamental values.
2020	The Importance of Play for children in the times of crises. Bangkok International Children’s Theatre Fest.
2017	Lecture for The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs. “Edutainment: Entertainment in education”
2017	Helping Hands – Happy Kids. Workshop, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, USA.
2011	Psychological First Aid Kit as prevention: Low-threshold cognitive self-help approach for children, adolescents, and families. EABCT congress in Reykjavik, Iceland.

MEDIA, SELECTED

May 3, 2024 Tanzania Broadcast, TBC online. Uhuru Mama Collective is transforming the lives of mothers of children with disabilities. https://youtu.be/jZlQbHsTRh0?si=V94NaMfX2ooCI1KH

March 3, 2024, Rotary Norden, Norge, (2), p 20-22. https://rotarynorden.e-pages.pub/titles/rotarynorge/14258/publications/69/pages/22

April 9, 2024, Romsdals Budstikke, https://www.rbnett.no/nyheter/i/Moxr6o/psykologens-metode-er-verdensberoemt-her-er-hennes-beste-raad

Jan 25th 2023 World Economic Forum. The Helping Hand is at the top of the Tech for Good-list.

May 20th 2022 Winner of Youth Mental Health Challenge, UpLink - World Economic Forum

March 1st 2022 How Attensi is forging a new path to mental wellbeing with VR, gaming, and simulation. Mental Health Today

februar 2022 Helpende Handen. Een hulpmiddel om alledaagse en veelvoorkomende lastige situaties beter te hanteren.’ Sterk! In Autisme, 241, 20-22. Netherlands.
november 2021 Helsedirektoratet tilbyr nye apper mot psykiske vansker. NAPHA
september 2021 Lange ventelister på psykisk helsehjelp – vil gi barn og unge «app på resept» nrk.no
august 2021 En hjelpende hånd til ungdom i Norge og flyktninger i Libanon. Utrop.no
august 2021 Lektor Lomsdalenintervjuer Solfrid Raknes om Skole på flukt.
mars 2021 Hoppet på Bernie Trenden. Norsk Ukeblad
feb 2021 Lærer ungdom psykologisk førstehjelp. Psykologisk.no
feb 2021 Syriske flyktninger hekler Bernie Sanders dukker til Nordmenn. NRK
des 2020 Dataspill skal bidra til bedre livsmestring blant unge. Gyldendal.no
sept 2020Dagens hverdagshelt, God Morgen Norge, TV2
juni 2020 En norsk app for Psykologisk førstehjelp skal lanseres for ungdom i Libanon.Dagens, NRK P1
juni 2019 Psykologistudentar: Vi treng kunnskap for å hjelpe flyktninger.Framtida.no
mai 2019 Ny gaming app skal gi flyktninger Psykologisk førstehjelp.TV2 nyheter
mai 2019 Finland, magasin for helse og skoleher

10.11.2018 Psykologisk førstehjelper BT Magasinet

13.09.2018 Doktergrad Solfrid Raknes. Bergens Tidende

10.08.2018 Generasjon prestasjon junior. Aftenposten, A-magasinet

16.07.2018 Flukt gir usynlege skadar. Vårt Land

23.05.2018 Solfrid Raknes er glad for at gründerjobben har blitt en livsstil. Psykologisk.no

9.032018 Stort frammøte på 8. mars. Avisa Hordaland

27.12.2017 Teiknar håp i flyktningeleiren Framtida Junior

20.12.2017 Jeg er kald. Ta meg tilbake til huset mitt. Bergens Tidende

15.09.2017 Læreren er viktig for å fange opp psykiske problemer. Forskning.no

2010 Trør til med Psykologisk førstehjelp. Tidsskrift for norsk psykologforening

2003 Skrekk og gru i heisen. Norge Rundt, NRK TV