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Biography
Dr Shun Chen is an Assistant Professor in Person-Centred Experiential Counselling & Psychotherapy and Trauma-Informed Practice at the University of Nottingham, a position he has held since 2025. Prior to this, he worked at the University of Aberdeen.
Dr Chen is a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS), a COSCA (Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland) Accredited Trainer, and an accredited trainer in Gender, Sex, and Relationship Diversities. He is also an accredited psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and serves on the editorial board for Psychology & Sexuality.
Expertise Summary
Dr Shun Chen holds a PhD from the School of Education at the University of Nottingham, where he also completed an MA in Person-Centred Experiential Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice. Before this, he earned a BSc (Hons) in Psychology at the University of York.
Dr Chen's research interests span a range of topics, including mindfulness, authenticity, interpersonal relationships, femininity ideology, minority stress, counsellor education, individual development and social change. Dr Chen has collaborated with research teams across the UK and globally, in countries such as the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina.
Teaching Summary
Dr Shun Chen's teaching focuses on preparing students for professional practice in person-centred experiential counselling, psychotherapy, and trauma-informed practice. His contributions span a… read more
Research Summary
1. Psychometric development and Cross-cultural adaptation
Dr Shun Chen's research focuses on the development and validation of psychometric tools that are culturally relevant and adaptable to diverse populations. His work emphasises the importance of creating assessments that maintain reliability and validity across different cultural contexts, facilitating their application in global counselling practices.
2. Authenticity, Relationships, and Well-Being
A key area of Dr Chen's research explores the concept of authenticity and its impact on personal well-being and relationship dynamics. His studies investigate how authenticity interacts with factors such as internalised societal pressures, relational functioning, and well-being, offering valuable insights into the interplay between individual and interpersonal growth.
3. Diversity in counsellor education
Dr Chen is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion within counsellor education. His work addresses the unique challenges faced by underrepresented groups in training programmes, aiming to foster a more inclusive and equitable environment for future practitioners.
*I currently have capacity to supervise 1-2 new doctoral students. If you are interested in applying, please ensure you have a draft research proposal ready before reaching out. However, I am happy to discuss the appropriateness of your research topic beforehand.*
Selected Publications
WHITTER M., CHEN S., 2024. LGBTQ+ Trainee Counsellors' Experiences of Person-Centered Counsellor Training in the UK: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis In: The 16th World Conference for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling (PCE2024).
CHEN, S., LIAO, F., MURPHY, D. and JOSEPH, S., 2021. Measurement invariance of the English, Chinese and Spanish versions of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. 55(1), 30-47
Dr Shun Chen's teaching focuses on preparing students for professional practice in person-centred experiential counselling, psychotherapy, and trauma-informed practice. His contributions span a variety of programmes, with an emphasis on integrating theory, research, and practice to address complex and sensitive issues within diverse client populations.
Dr Chen teaches topics such as research methods and critical reading, equipping students with the skills needed to engage with academic literature and apply evidence-based approaches in their practice. He also covers key areas in counselling theory and practice ethics, encouraging students to critically reflect on their professional responsibilities and ethical considerations.
Central to Dr Chen's teaching is a strong emphasis on difference and diversity. His teaching explores gender, sexual, and relationship diversity (GSRD), intersectionality, and trauma in relation to race and sexuality. These topics encourage students to critically engage with the lived experiences of clients while fostering a deeper understanding of systemic and structural inequalities.
In addition, Dr Chen's teaching addresses practical and sensitive areas, such as talking about sex in relationships and working with difference and diversity. He provides students with the tools and confidence to approach these conversations with sensitivity, authenticity, and humility, fostering inclusive and effective therapeutic relationships.
Dr Chen's teaching approach is grounded in person-centred principles, creating a supportive learning environment that encourages self-awareness, critical thinking, and professional growth.