Solfrid Raknes

CV

PhD Solfrid Raknes is a Norwegian Clinical Psychologist, Researcher and Innovator. She is the driving force behind prize winning cognitive behavioral based material which is widely used in school health services, schools and kindergartens, as well as in specialised mental health services for children and adolescents. Since 2004 she has lectured extensively both in universities and a variety of health- and school-systems in Norway and internationally. In doing so, she provides continuing education opportunities for psychologists, GPs, social workers and teachers. Raknes is involved in a wide spectrum of humanitarian and research projects focused on improving mental health, and reducing poverty. After having spent the last 4 years mainly in Lebanon with Syrian refugees, she is now splits her time between Bergen, Beqaa, and Washington DC.

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WORK EXPERIENCES

2023 – present. Participant in the NOREC project Children with disabilities & UN rights convention; a collaboration between Molde University College Norway, Western Norway University of Applied Science, The Open University of Tanzania and Patandi Teachers’ College of special needs education, Tanzania

2023 – present. Consultant for Norwegian Church Aid and HEKS/EPER in implementing “The Helping Hand” in Ukraine and Romania

2022 – present. Developing and Evaluation “The Magic Mitten”, a psychosocial material for children 8 – 12 years in partnership with Dr. Hesna Al Ghaoui. Nagarro in USA has developed the app, and collaborators in Lebanon, Ukraine, Hungary, and Norway are testing it

2022 – 2023 Consultant for The Syrian American Medical Association (SAMS) implementing “The Helping Hand” in Jordan and Lebanon

2020 2022 Project leader in testing “The Happy Helping Hand App (HH)”, first financed by Innovation Norway through NORAD Innovation 2030, then by Great Canada Challenge

2018 – 2020 Project leader in developing “The Happy Helping Hand App”, financed by Innovation Norway

2018 – 2020 Project leader in developing and evaluating a school-based group program for anxious children in Bærum, financed by The Norwegian Health Directory

2017 – 2019 Project leader in developing and implementing The Helping Hand Program in Arabic. Collaborators: Dar El Fatwa Relief, Lebanon, SAMS Lebanon, and MultiAid Programs, Lebanon

2014 – 2017 Researcher II, Uni Research Health, Bergen

2011 – 2013 Project leader for The Psychological First Aid Kit in Children´s House in Oslo, and Spreading and Evaluation of the Psychological First Aid Kit, Uni Research Health, Bergen  

2007 – 2010 Project leader Developing The Psychological First Aid Kit

2004 – 2020 Providing workshops and supervision for professionals in CBT training administered by NFKT Norway

2000 – 2013 Clinical Psychologist, Voss Hospital

1999 – 2000 Clinical Psychologist, Sør-Trøndelag Psychiatric Hospital 

 

 

 

EDUCATION

2014 – 2018 PhD in Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway

2000 – 2004 Training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and CBT Supervision, The Norwegian Association for Cognitive Therapy (NFKT)

1992 – 1999 Clinical Psychologist, Clinical study of Psychology, University of Tromsø, UiT

 
HONORS AND GRANTS

2022 Winner of Youth Mental Health Challenge by Uplink - World Economic Forum  

2020 – 2022 Grant from Great Canada Challenges for proof of concept study of The Helping Hand, SAMS Lebanon

2020   2022 Grant from Innovation Norway, The Helping Hand

2020 Today´s Everyday Hero. TV2, Norway

2019 Personal grant from Sparebanken Vest, Norway

2019 Nominated to "Citizen of the year, Bergen"

2018 – 2020 Grant from Innovation Norway through NORAD2030

2018 – 2019 Grant from The Norwegian Health Directory, Bærum

2018 – 2019 Grant from The Norwegian Health Directory

2016 – 2017 Overseas Scholarship, The Norwegian Research Council

2014 – 2017 PhD grant from The Norwegian Research Council

2014 – 2015 Personal grant from Extrastiftelsen

2014 Personal grant from Kavlifondet

2011 – 2013 Grant from The Norwegian Health Directory

2013 The Norwegian Psychology Association´ Aasa Gruda Skard´s honor

2012 Bergen University Hospital´s prize for Innovation

2010 Personal grant from The Norwegian Association for Cognitive Therapy

 

POSITIONS, REPRESENTATION AND VOLUNTARY WORK

2019 – ? Representing Norway in EFPA, Board of Prevention and Promotion

2020 – 2022 Member of the board of  Reaching across borders

2019 – 2022 Founding and developing “The Crochet Community Collective” in collaboration with MAPS, Lebanon, fundraising for education, mental health support

2016 – 2017 Member of the board of  Association for Intercultural Psychology, The Norwegian Psychology Association

2013 – 2018 Representing Norway in Low intensity CBT in EABCT

2004 – 2017 Member of the board of  The Norwegian Association for Cognitive Therapy

2007 –  2010 Founder and member of the board of Lesehug

 

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

  1. Wergeland GJH, Haaland AT, Fjermestad KW, Öst LG, Gjestad R, Bjaastad JF, Hoffart A, Husabo E, Raknes S & Haugland BSM (2023). Predictors of school-based cognitive behavior therapy outcome for youth with anxiety, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 104400.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796723001481
  2. 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
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Husabo, E., Haugland, B.S.M., McLeod, B.D., Baste, V., Haaland, Å.T., Bjaastad, J.F., ... Wergeland, G.J. (2021). Treatment Fidelity in Brief Versus Standard Length School Based Interventions for Youth with Anxiety. School Mental Health, Vol 3. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-021-09458-2
  6. Raknes, S. (2020). The Happy Helping Hand used by Syrian displaced adolescents in Lebanon: A Pilot Study of Feasibility, Usefulness and Impact. White paper.
  7. 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.
  8. Raknes, 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/
  9. Haugland, B., Håland, Å., ... Wergeland, G. (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.
  10. Raknes, S. (2018). Anxious Adolescents: Prevalence, Correlates, and Preventive Cognitive Behavioural Interventions. Dissertation for the degree of philosophiae doctor (Ph.D) at the University of Bergen, Norway.
  11. 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.
  12. Raknes, S., Pallesen, S., Bjaastad, J.F., Wergeland, G.J., Hoffart, A., Dyregrov, K., ... Haugland, B.S.M. (2017). Negative life events, social support and self-efficacy in anxious adolescents. Psychological Reports, 0(0), 1-18.
  13. 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.
  14. Haugland, B., Raknes, S., Haaland, A., Wergeland, G., Bjaastad, J., ... Hoffart, A. (2017). School-based cognitive behavioral interventions for anxious youth: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 18(100).
  15. Raknes, S., Johansen, K.W., Tørnes, H., & Håvardstun, T. (2016). Psykologisk kunnskap for barnehagebarn. Psykologi i kommunen, 1, 45-53.
  16. Haugland, B., Mauseth, D., & Raknes, S. (2013). Psykologisk førstehjelp i førstelinjetjenesten. Implementering og evaluering. Rapport til Helsedirektoratet. RKBU Vest og R-BUP Øst og Sør.
  17. Tilden, T., & Raknes, S. (2010). Psykologisk førstehjelpsskrin i par- og familieterapi. Fokus på familien, 3, 212-225.
  18. Raknes, S. (2008). Åtferdseksperiment som metode. In Berge & Repål (Eds.), Håndbok i kognitiv terapi (kap. 4, s. 111-131).
  19. Raknes, S. (2007). Åtferdseksperiment som metode i behandling av sosial fobi. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening, 2, 139-147.

 

APPS AND DIGITALIZED LEARNING PROGRAMS

Magic Mitten, Ukrainian and English, app for children 8 – 12 years

Helping Hand, app for adolescents 12 – 19 years, Norwegian, English, French, Ukrainian

الید المسا ِعدة, for adolescents 12 - 19 years, Arabic

Grønne tanker i Salaby, Digitalized learning program for kids, for children 4 - 8 years, Norwegian

Glade Maur, app for children 4 - 8 years; Norwegian, Spanish, Sápmi, English and Arabic

 

POPULAR SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS

Raknes S (2023). Folkehelse og livsmestring for flyktningbarn. Forebygging.no

Raknes S & Rostami A (2022). Gir spill uante muligheter? Forebygging.no

Raknes S (2022). Kan elever spille seg til psykisk helse i skolen? Forebygging.no

Raknes S og Stensholt KW (2021). Spill fenger - erfaringer med spill app for sosial og emosjonell læring i klasserommet. Forebygging.no

Raknes, S. (2021). Tanker og følelser på timeplanen for ungdom i Namsos: Evaluering av implementering av psykologisk førstehjelp skoleåret 2020/2021. Rapport til Namsos Kommune, Program for folkehelse. 

Raknes, S. (2020). Hjelpehånda - et spill for å trene på følelsesmessige utfordringer, derjournal.no, desember, s 26; og på arabisk, s 43

Albiad, I & Raknes, S. (2020). Korona forverrer situasjonen for syriske flyktninger i Libanon. derjournal.no, desember, s25-26; og på arabisk, s 43-44

Raknes, S. (2020). Mangan, miljø og mot

Raknes, Hansen, Cederkvist & Nordgaard (2017). Psykologisk førstehjelp i skole og skolehelsetjeneste. I Kvarme (red). Sårbare skolebarn. Bergen: Fagbokforlaget.

Repål, A & Raknes, S (2015). Islamifisering av psykoterapi. Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening 52, 141-144

Raknes, S. (2015). Atferdseksperimenter og hjemmeoppgaver. I Berge og Repål (red). Håndbok i kognitiv terapi 2. utgave. s 71-81, Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.

Raknes, S (2014) Grønne tanker om helsesøsterarbeid. Tidsskrift for helsesøstre, 3, 54-56

Neumer, Raknes, Martinsen, Haugland, Matre, Dahl (2013). Tre KAT-baserte forskningsprosjekter for barn og unge. Tidsskrift for kognitiv terapi, 4, 6-19

Raknes, S & Haugland, B (2013): Psykologisk Førstehjelp. Veiledning for bruk i førstelinjen. Oslo: Gyldendal Akademisk.

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

See CV 

MEDIA, SELECTED

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

  1. februar 2022 Helpende Handen. Een hulpmiddel om alledaagse en veelvoorkomende lastige situaties beter te hanteren.’ Sterk! In Autisme, 241, 20-22. Netherlands. 
  2. november 2021 Helsedirektoratet tilbyr nye apper mot psykiske vansker. NAPHA
  3. september 2021 Lange ventelister på psykisk helsehjelp – vil gi barn og unge «app på resept» nrk.no
  4. august 2021 En hjelpende hånd til ungdom i Norge og flyktninger i Libanon. Utrop.no
  5. august 2021 Lektor Lomsdalenintervjuer Solfrid Raknes om Skole på flukt. 
  6. mars 2021 Hoppet på Bernie Trenden. Norsk Ukeblad
  7. feb 2021 Lærer ungdom psykologisk førstehjelp. Psykologisk.no
  8. feb 2021 Syriske flyktninger hekler Bernie Sanders dukker til Nordmenn. NRK
  9. des 2020 Dataspill skal bidra til bedre livsmestring blant unge. Gyldendal.no
  10. sept 2020Dagens hverdagshelt, God Morgen Norge, TV2
  11. juni 2020 En norsk app for Psykologisk førstehjelp skal lanseres for ungdom i Libanon.Dagens, NRK P1
  12. juni 2019 Psykologistudentar: Vi treng kunnskap for å hjelpe flyktninger.Framtida.no
  13. mai 2019 Ny gaming app skal gi flyktninger Psykologisk førstehjelp.TV2 nyheter
  14. 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

solraknes@gmail.com +47 416 17 343