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Biography
Dr Shun Chen is an Assistant Professor in Person-Centred Experiential Counselling & Psychotherapy at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, 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 , a Accredited Trainer, supervisor, and an accredited trainer in Gender, Sex, and Relationship Diversities. He is also an accredited psychotherapist with the and serves on the editorial board for and .
Expertise Summary
Dr Shun Chen holds a PhD from the School of Education at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, 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 focus on intersectionality within higher education and facilitative organisational conditions in educational and organisational settings, alongside broader interests in authenticity, interpersonal relationships, LGBTQ+ mental health and wellbeing.
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. Intersectionality and Facilitative environments in Education
Dr Chen's research explores intersectionality and facilitative organisational conditions within education. His work examines how educational and organisational environments may support or hinder the experiences, wellbeing, belonging, and development of diverse and underrepresented communities.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Current and completed funded research projects include:
1. Intersectionality in Higher Education: Transitions and Transformations of Sexual Minority International Students (as Principal investigator, Funded by Wellcome, £9,890.22, 2026-2027)
2. Person-Centred Organisations: Development and Validation of a 12-Item Scale of Facilitative Organisational Conditions (as Principal investigator, Funded by PCE World, €2,100.00, 2026-2027)
3. Boarding Schools Bursary Programme, UK (as research assistant, Funded by The Royal National Children's Springboard Foundation, £41,000.00, 2021-2022)
Selected Publications
SHUN CHEN, 2026. Psychology & Sexuality.
CHEN, S., MURPHY, D. and JOSEPH, S., 2024. Psychology and Sexuality. 15(1), 127-146
S CHEN, D MURPHY, S JOSEPH, 2024. Asian Journal of Social Psychology. 27(1), 101-126
S CHEN, S STEPHEN, S HE and S JOSEPH, 2025. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies. 22
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.
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.
PhD Supervisions:
I am supervising/supervised the following PhD students:
Yiwei Kere, Boarding school experience of left-behind school students in China (ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, CURRENT)
Jen Holland, Investigating Therapeutic Principles and Outcomes in Person-Centred Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress. (ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, CURRENT)
Rachel Bacon, Cultivating mindfulness and self-compassion in pre-registration nurse education. (ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, CURRENT)
Thomas Blackwell, Integrating mindfulness into a curriculum may support the mental health, wellbeing and social-emotional development of children and young people in education. (ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, CURRENT)
, The impact of emotional narratives on the mental health of volunteer telephone counsellors. (University of Aberdeen, COMPLETED 2025)
*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.*