Dr Shun Chen

Biography

Shun Chen, PhD., CPsychol., MBACP (Accred), AFHEA. Lecturer (Assistant Professor) of Counselling Psychology in the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen. Shun is a Chartered Psychologist and a member of the Division of Counselling Psychology of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and an accredited psychotherapist with the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). He also holds an accreditation as a Gender, Sex, & Relationship Diversities (GSRD) trainer.

Shun studied Psychology as an undergraduate at the University of York. He has a master's degree in Person-Centred Experiential Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice and holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham. 

Research Overview

Shun's research interests span across three pivotal domains: person-centred and positive psychology, LGBTQ+ mental health, wellbeing, and cultural experiences, and LGBTQ+ family and relationships.

In the field of Person-Centred and Positive Psychology, Shun focuses on facets such as authenticity, interpersonal relationships, therapeutic relationships, and therapeutic processes. He has developed a concise instrument to assess the core conditions of empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard. His primary objective is to empirically substantiate Carl Rogers' person-centred theory, whilst also fostering interconnections with other disciplines.

When exploring LGBTQ+ Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Cultural Experiences, Shun's research delves into the impacts of minority stress, the prevalence of microaggressions, and the power of stereotypes. Additionally, he brings a crucial cultural perspective, examining the unique experiences and challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community across diverse cultures. His work aims to illuminate these distinct stressors and to advocate for strategies promoting mental health resilience and wellbeing.

In the area of LGBTQ+ Family and Relationships, Shun utilises Rogers' theory of personality development and interpersonal relationships to analyse romantic partnerships. Specifically, his studies investigate the influence of a partner's dispositional authenticity on their own and their partner's relationship functioning amongst same-gender and opposite-gender couples.

Collaborations

I am engaged in a global research collaboration focused on enhancing the mental wellbeing of international students, partnering with colleagues in Wales and Michigan.

I am working with colleagues in Scotland, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina on a project to translate a psychometric scale that measures cognitive functioning into various languages. This effort aims to validate the new language versions of the scales and compare their psychometric properties

Funding and Grants

An independent evaluation of the outcomes for looked after and vulnerable children attending boarding schools (as co-investigator, funded by the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation, £41,000, 2020-2023)