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

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.
2022 – present 2020 – present	The Magic Mitten. This project aims to promote mental well-being, health, and learning and prevent mental health disorders by creating an easily accessible digital toolbox for children affected by war, first made for Ukrainian children aged 8 – 12. My role as an independent psychologist/researcher was to initiate, develop, evaluate, and facilitate the spread of the material. UNESCO promotes the project. Magic Mitten. https://magicmitten.org Happy Helping Hand in Lebanon and Jordan. The Syrian American Medical Association (SAMS) implemented The Helping Hand as a blended learning psychosocial program for adolescents in Lebanon and Jordan, followed by research. I oversaw the implementation and guided its cultural adaptation. I led the study, trained the facilitators who first implemented it, and developed a trainer-of-trainers´ manual so SAMS can now independently upscale the program for Arabic adolescents. https://attensi.com/helping-hand
2025	Mental Health Activity Manager for Doctors Without Borders in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. I lead a team of psychologists who gave treatment to patients with severe and complex PTSD and oversaw program development and implementation.
2007 - present	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.
1999 – 2000	Clinical Psychologist at Sør-Trøndelag Psychiatric Hospital, Norway.

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.

SELECTED 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
2018 – 2019	Grant from The Norwegian Health Directory, with Bærum
2014 – 2017	PhD grant, The Norwegian Research Council
2014 – 2015	Personal grant from Extrastiftelsen
2014	Personal grant from Kavlifondet
2013	The Norwegian Psychology Association´ Aasa Gruda Skard´s grant
2012	Bergen University Hospital´s prize for Innovation

LATEST SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

1. Raknes, S., Sæbjørnsen, S.E.N., Aarlie H.C., Bromstad, T.M.N., Makuu M.J., Yamala, C., Hean, S. (2024). Starting a cultural collective for mothers of children with disabilities: A case study. African Journal of Disability,13, a1367. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v13i0.1367

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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