Counselor
Karen Ali

Experienced Counselor And Therapist Trained In Norway

17 years experience from Norway working for the government and private organizations as a counselor.
 
I am now offering person-to-person counseling sessions here in Dhaka. My qualifications are based 15 years residential experience in Bangladesh; Integration through marriage, raising 5 children as well as working experience within the NGO sectors. 
 
My education is related to the field of personal counseling as I am a holder of Master Degree in Value Based Management (Research conducted in Bangladesh) and Bachelor Degree in Social Work from Norway. I have also taken different credit courses through the years, participated in numeral workshops related to my educational background.

Professional Credentials

education background

  • 1991 – 1994 Bachelor of Social Work,  Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology (NTNU),   Trondheim, Norway
  • 2006 – 2007 Children, Teenagers and Adults in difficult life situations. Norwegian Institute of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
  • 2010 – 2014 Master Degree Value Based Management. Diakonhjemmet University College
  • Survey conducted in Dhaka with interviews regarding cultural differences between Norwegian managers and Bangladeshi employees.
  • In addition to formal education, I have participated in various training courses within the social work areas within the field of disability and suicide prevention.

Professional Experience, Norway

  • Krisesenter, Trondheim, Norway –  Safe-house  for mentally and physically abused women.
  • From 2005 – 2008: Working as a counselor in an emergency center and safe-house. The women often had left  their home on a very short notice and had no place to stay  Many of them have been victims of abuse for years, were terrified of their abuser and were using a personal alarm if they had to go outside the safehouse.
  • Social Welfare Department and Child Welfare Department, Oslo, Norway
  • 2008 – 2021 Working as a counselor.
  • Social Welfare Department

    Persons who are in a financially difficult situation because of  unemployment and have no other source of income, have the right to  receive a minimum of financial support from SW.

  • Child Welfare department
  • Kirkens SOS, Oslo, Norway Telephone Counceling Hotline

    2019 – 2021 Working as a volunteer phone operator

    Any person who is distressed, very lonely, depressed, suicidal or are suffering from other problems can make an anonymous phone call that will be answered by an operator.

    The phonecalls can vary from small talk with lonely persons, to conversations with  distressed and depressed persons who is considering to commit suicide.

Professional Experience, Bangladesh

  • 1987 – 1989
    The Royal Norwegian Embassy, Dhaka

    Worked as a cultural adviser, secretary and in the filing department

  • 1994 – 2000
    NFPU, Oslo, Norway (Norwegian country organisation for persons with mental disability)

    Worked as a cultural adviser and translator

    Preparing Norwegian delegations visits to Bangladesh in order to supervise projects. Asisted them during their project visits to different parts of Bangladesh.

  • Did an independent follow up by visiting some of the projects and writing reports. Worked as a coordinator for schools in the slums for poor disabled children.
  • 2000 – 2003
    LEV, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Worked as a manager in a Danida supported project in Dhaka. Supervised a shool for disabled children. Established groups for the mothers in order to learn to take care of the special needs of their children, especially thieir health.

  • 2022 – Peoples University of Bangladesh
    Guest lecturer in Social Work