Informed by Evidence, Guided by Connection, Rooted in Empathy
My practice is grounded in compassion, cultural sensitivity, and evidence-based care.
I bring an international perspective to my work, shaped by over a decade of experience across clinical, hospital, and academic settings. I support individuals and groups navigating challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic illness with a focus on cancer, and life transitions.
Rooted in a relational and integrative approach, my sessions offer a safe space to explore your experiences, build self-awareness, and foster resilience. I work collaboratively toward healing that honours your story, your culture, and your unique path to growth.
PhD in Psychology from Charité University Hospital in Berlin, Germany
Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology,
The American University in Cairo, EgyptDiploma in Community Psychology,
The American University in Cairo, EgyptBachelor of Arts in Psychology, Double Minor in Sociology and Anthropology,
The American University in Cairo, EgyptPublications in international peer-reviewed journals
Member of the Fédération Suisse des Psychologues (FSP)
Member of the Association Genevoise des Psychologues (AGPsy)
Professional Qualifications
Published Work
Böge, K., Karnouk, C., Hahn, E., Schneider, F., Habel, U., Banaschewski, T., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Salize, H. J., Kamp-Becker, I., Padberg, F., Hasan, A., Falkai, P., Rapp, M. A., Plener, P. L., Stamm, T., Elnahrawy, N., Lieb, K., Heinz, A., & Bajbouj, M. (2019). Mental health in refugees and asylum seekers (MEHIRA): Study design and methodology of a prospective multicentre randomised controlled trial investigating the effects of a stepped and collaborative care model. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 270(1), 95 106. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-019-00991-5
Karnouk, C., Böge, K., Hahn, E., Strasser, J., Schweininger, S., & Bajbouj, M. (2019) Psychotherapy in Jordan: An Investigation of the Host and Syrian Refugee Community's Perspectives. Front Psychiatry,10:556. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00556. PMID: 31456702; PMCID: PMC6700211.
Churbaji D, Lindheimer N, Schilz L, Böge K, Abdelmagid S, Rayes D, Hahn, E, Bajbouj, M & Karnouk, C. (2020) Entwicklung einer Kultursensiblen Version des Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) in hocharabischer Sprache. Fortschritte der Neurologie· Psychiatrie;88(02):95-104
Böge K, Karnouk C, Hahn E, Demir Z, & Bajbouj M. (2020) On Perceived Stress and Social Support: Depressive, Anxiety and Trauma-Related Symptoms in Arabic-Speaking Refugees in Jordan and Germany. Frontiers Public Health, 8:239. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2020.00239
Lindheimer N, Karnouk C, Hahn E, Churbaji D, Schilz L, Rayes D, Bajbouj M, Böge K. (2020) Exploring the Representation of Depressive Symptoms and the Influence of Stigma in Arabic-Speaking Refugee Outpatients. Front Psychiatry, 12;11:579057. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.579057. PMID: 33281643; PMCID: PMC7689084.
Rayes D, Karnouk C, Churbaji D, Walther L, & Bajbouj M. (2021) Faith-Based Coping Among Arabic-Speaking Refugees Seeking Mental Health Services in Berlin, Germany: An Exploratory Qualitative Study. Frontiers Psychiatry, 12:595979. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.595979. PMID: 33633605; PMCID: PMC7901912.
Böge K, Hahn E, Strasser J, Schweininger S, Bajbouj M. & Karnouk C. (2021) Psychotherapy in the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI): Preferences and expectations of the Kurdish host community, internally displaced- and Syrian refugee community. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 14:20764021995219. doi: 10.1177/0020764021995219. PMID: 33583235.
Karnouk C, Böge K, Lindheimer N, Churbaji D, Abdelmagid S, Mohamad S, Hahn E, & Bajbouj M. (2021) Development of a culturally sensitive Arabic version of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.-AR) and validation of the depression module. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 15(1):
Böge, K.*, Karnouk, C.*, Hoell, A., Tschorn, M., Kamp-Becker, I., Padberg, F., Übleis, A., Hasan, A., Falkai, P., Salize, H.J., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Banaschewski, T., Schneider, F., Habel, U., Plener, P., Hahn, E., Wiechers, M., Strupf, M., Jobst, A., Millenet, S., Hoehne, E., Sukale, T., Dinauer, R., Schuster, M., Mehran, N., Kaiser, F., Bröcheler, S., Lieb, K., Heinz, A., Rapp, M., Bajbouj, M., 2022. Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness for the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms in Refugees and Asylum Seekers: a Multi-centred Randomized Controlled Trial. Lancet Regional Health – Europe 19, 100413.
Strupf M, Wiechers M, Bajbouj M, Böge K, Karnouk C, Goerigk S, Kamp-Becker I, Banaschewski T, Rapp M, Hasan A, Falkai P, Jobst-Heel A, Habel U, Stamm T, Heinz A, Hoell A, Burger M, Bunse T, Hoehne E, Mehran N, Kaiser F, Hahn E, Plener P, Übleis A, Padberg F. Predicting treatment outcomes of the Empowerment group intervention for refugees with affective disorders: Findings from the MEHIRA project. J Affect Disord. 2022 Nov 23;323:241-250. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.11.050.
Schilz L, Kemna S, Karnouk C, Böge K, Lindheimer N, Walther L, Mohamad S, Suboh A, Hasan A, Höhne E, Banaschewski T, Plener P, Strupf M, Hahn E, Bajbouj M. A house is not a home: a network model perspective on the dynamics between subjective quality of living conditions, social support, and mental health of refugees and asylum seekers. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2023 May;58(5):757-768. doi: 10.1007/s00127-022-02419-3. Epub 2023 Jan 12. PMID: 36633630; PMCID: PMC10097787.
Höhne, E., Böge, K., Karnouk, C. et al. Culturally sensitive stepped care for adolescent refugees: efficacy and cost–utility of a multicentric randomized controlled trial. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02179-8
Strupf M, Hoell A, Bajbouj M, Böge K, Wiechers M, Karnouk C, Kamp-Becker I, Banaschewski T, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Rapp M, Hasan A, Falkai P, Habel U, Heinz A, Plener P, Kaiser F, Weigold S, Mehran N, Übleis A, Padberg F. Shared sorrow, shared costs: cost-effectiveness analysis of the Empowerment group therapy approach to treat affective disorders in refugee populations. BJPsych Open. 2023 Jun 22;9(4):e113. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2023.504. PMID: 37345544; PMCID: PMC10305100.
Wiechers M, Strupf M, Bajbouj M, Böge K, Karnouk C, Goerigk S, Kamp-Becker I, Banaschewski T, Rapp M, Hasan A, Falkai P, Jobst-Heel A, Habel U, Stamm T, Heinz A, Hoell A, Burger M, Bunse T, Hoehne E, Mehran N, Kaiser F, Hahn E, Plener P, Übleis A, Padberg F. Empowerment group therapy for refugees with affective disorders: results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Eur Psychiatry. 2023 Jul 17;66(1):e64. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2431. PMID: 37458215; PMCID: PMC10594347.