Victor Counted | Regent University (original) (raw)

Victor Counted

Dr. Victor Counted is a research psychologist and associate professor in the School of Psychology and Counseling at Regent University. He specializes in health, positive, environmental psychology, and clinical psychology of religion. His work primarily examines various aspects of psychosocial and psychospiritual processes that shape health and well-being across cultures, including how the interactions between people and their environments affect human behavior.

Counted has an interdisciplinary background in theology and social sciences and holds a Ph.D. in Health Psychology from Western Sydney University (Australia) and a second Ph.D. in Psychology of Religion from The University of Groningen (The Netherlands). He is a Faculty Affiliate of Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program, an Honorary Fellow of Western Sydney University’s School of Psychology, a nominated Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion, and a founding member of the Society for the Psychology of Religion in Australia and New Zealand (SPRANZ). He is also a Researcher Rating Assessor for the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and an Editorial Board Member for Mental Health, Religion, and Culture.

Counted has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in various academic journals and books on themes that coalesce around his research interests, including religion and well-being, human flourishing, adult attachment processes, psychology of religious places, place and disaster psychology, and contemporary issues related to spiritual care.

In addition, Counted has served as a reviewer for numerous journals and is the author of Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing: Disruption, Adjustment, and Healthy Behaviors (Springer, 2021), The Roots of Radicalization: Disrupted Attachment Systems and Displacement (Lexington Books, 2021), and lead editor of The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019) and Place, Spirituality, and Well-being: A Global and Multidisciplinary Approach (Springer, 2023).

For an up-to-date version of his publications and free downloads, please access here: https://vcounted.com/publications/
Phone: 757.352.4476
Address: Regent University
College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
School of Psychology and Social Sciences
1000 Regent University Drive, CRB 161 D
Virginia Beach, VA 23464

less

Uploads

Papers by Victor Counted

Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 2024

In response to the call for integrative scriptural competence (Hathaway, 2021), missional psychot... more In response to the call for integrative scriptural competence (Hathaway, 2021), missional psychotherapy offers a nuanced counseling approach that incorporates the spiritual dimensions of missio Dei (the mission of God) with human experiences to promote spiritual growth, holistic well-being, and personal transformation. Anchored to a Christian worldview that portrays God's redemptive work and the concept of missio Dei, this therapeutic approach acknowledges the individuals' calling to participate in God's work in the world. In this paper, we examine the theoretical foundations, practical applications, and potential benefits of missional psychotherapy as a therapeutic intervention, emphasizing its connection to missional hermeneutics. At the heart of this approach lies the foundational application of clients' spiritual beliefs into the therapeutic process, validating their inherent worth and purpose as part of God's grand narrative. We propose an existential missional paradigm for Christian counseling that facilitates this application by guiding clients through four tasks: personalizing, locating, engaging, and applying God's story to their lives. This framework accentuates the importance of connecting clients with their spiritual roots and the global Christian community, while maintaining sensitivity to their cultural context. The implications of missional psychotherapy transcend individual healing, as it cultivates a spiritually integrated approach to mental health care that concurrently facilitates personal transformation and active involvement in God's mission. The inclusion of fictionalized case examples illustrates the practical application of each task and demonstrates the adaptability of missional psychotherapy in addressing a wide range of psychological concerns and spiritual struggles.

Psychological Reports

In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional wel... more In this longitudinal study, we examine changes in psychological distress and multidimensional well-being from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among South African adults. As a secondary purpose, we explore whether pre-pandemic flourishing is protective against subsequent psychological distress during the public health crisis. The analytic sample ( n = 293; Mage = 44.27, SD = 14.28; female = 65.19%) completed measures of anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and well-being shortly before the stringent nationwide lockdown started in South Africa (T1). A follow-up assessment was completed approximately 6 months later (T2). Paired samples t-tests supported very small improvements in anxiety ( d = −0.09) and depression symptoms ( d = −0.13). For domains of well-being, small increases were found in close social relationships ( d = 0.25) and financial and material stability ( d = 0.19). Positive changes in the domains of character and virtue ( d = 0.10) and meaning and purpose ( d =...

Springer eBooks, Nov 18, 2022

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Mental Health, Religion & Culture

Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has plagued the world, bringing everyday activities to a standstill. Many p... more The COVID-19 pandemic has plagued the world, bringing everyday activities to a standstill. Many people are wrestling with the impact of the public health crisis on the connections they have with their environment (e.g., neighborhoods, cities), specific places (e.g., workplaces, places of worship), and people (e.g., loved ones, faith community) that are part of their daily lives. In this paper, we introduce the phenomenon of place attachment disruption as a common challenge for people who have been disconnected from their environment since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2. We conceptualize place as a relational object and argue that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the attachment that people have with the physical elements of their environment, the lifeforms of the environment, and to some extent the ‘soul’ of their cities. We then consider defensive responses that may be triggered by disruptions to place attachment during the public health crisis, including the emergence of spiritual/religious struggles. The experience of place attachment disruption is discussed as an opportunity to transcend place-related COVID-19 loss by detaching from ‘what no longer serves us’ in a way that builds resilience. We conclude by highlighting some practical approaches that could facilitate psychospiritual transformation (e.g., meaning-making) to disrupted place attachment during the public health crisis, as well as those that could support the formation of new (or renewed) connections to place in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 2021

The new African diaspora has emerged from the recent migratory movements of Africans. This popula... more The new African diaspora has emerged from the recent migratory movements of Africans. This population is tasked with finding effective methods of adjusting to new environments. Through the psychoanalytic lens of object relations, this article explores the role of religion in shaping migration experiences of the new African diaspora. It considers the psychological processes that intersect with religion to influence migrant adjustment. First, drawing from object relations theory, the role of early relational experiences in shaping self-concept is conveyed. Second, ways are explored in which religious phenomena can support transitional processes within a migration context. Third, the object relations framework is used to review some of the psychological tasks involved in the migration experience (e.g., processing of attachment disruptions, expansion of cultural identity). It is theorized that a migrant’s relationship with the sacred represents a transitional phenomenon that contributes...

This book rekindles the well-known connection between people and place in the context of a global... more This book rekindles the well-known connection between people and place in the context of a global pandemic. The chapters are divided into two sections. In the first section, “Place Attachment During a Pandemic,” we review the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extent of its impact on place attachment and human-environment interactions. We examine how restrictions in mobility and environmental changes can have a significant psychological burden on people who are dealing with the effect of place attachment disruption that arises during a pandemic. In the second section, “Adjusting to Place Attachment Disruption During and After a Pandemic,” we focus on adaptive processes and responses that could enable people to adjust positively to place attachment disruption. We conclude the book by discussing the potential for pro-environmental behavior to promote place attachment and flourishing in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic by introducing an integrative framework of place flourishing and exploring its implications for theory, research, policy, and practice.N/

Current Psychology, 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom (UK) government introduced public health safety ... more During the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Kingdom (UK) government introduced public health safety measures to mitigate the spikes in infection rates. This included stay-at-home orders that prevented people from leaving their homes for work or study, except for urgent medical care or buying essential items. This practice could have both short and long-term implications for health and wellbeing of people in the UK. Using longitudinal data of 10,630 UK adults, this study prospectively examined the association between home confinement status during the stringent lockdown in the UK (March 23-May 13, 2020) and 20 indicators of subjective well-being, social well-being, pro-social/altruistic behaviors, psychological distress, and health behaviors assessed approximately one month after the stringent lockdown ended. All analyses adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics and social isolation status in the beginning of the pandemic. Home confinement during the lockdown was associated with g...

The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2020

Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 2021

Deze studie onderzoekt de kruising van religie en plaats in psychologisch perspectief. Ten eerste... more Deze studie onderzoekt de kruising van religie en plaats in psychologisch perspectief. Ten eerste wordt religie geconceptualiseerd als een gehechtheidservaring waarbij migranten en mensen van de diaspora zoeken naar en gehecht blijven aan God als een surrogaat gehechtheid, iemand die hen helpt de onzekerheden van plaatsverandering te navigeren. Ten tweede wordt de ervaring van mensen op de plek besproken als een belevingservaring, zodat plaats een voorwerp van onderzoek en zoeken naar gehechtheden wordt, afhankelijk van de behoeften en nieuwsgierigheid van het individu. Deze twee golven van volwassen gehechtheidservaringen worden beide historisch onderzocht (met behulp van bijbelse interpretatie van plaatsgebeurtenissen in de bijbel) en empirisch (met behulp van transversale gegevens van 175 Afrikaanse migrantenpopulaties in Nederland). Ten derde ondersteunen empirische resultaten de link tussen religieuze en plaatsgehechtheid, zodat verspreide mensen met een Afrikaanse achtergrond ...

Cognitive and Behavioral Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

Wellbeing, Space and Society

SpringerBriefs in Psychology

Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 2024

Psychological Reports

Springer eBooks, Nov 18, 2022

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion

Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Mental Health, Religion & Culture

Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 2020

Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 2021

Current Psychology, 2022

The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2020

Journal for the Academic Study of Religion, 2021

Cognitive and Behavioral Dysfunction in Schizophrenia

Wellbeing, Space and Society

SpringerBriefs in Psychology

A presentation on Attachment and Quality of Life in African Migrants at the 'Psychology Research ... more A presentation on Attachment and Quality of Life in African Migrants at the 'Psychology Research @ Western" symposium.

A presentation at the 6th European Conference on Religion, Spirituality, and Health & International Conference of British Association for the Study of Spirituality, 2018

This presentation draws broadly on insights from attachment theory to discuss the main and intera... more This presentation draws broadly on insights from attachment theory to discuss the main and interactive effects of attachment to God (AG), attitudes toward God (ATG), and quality of life (QoL) outcomes in a cross-sectional sample of African Christian church goers (N=261; mean age = 36.9) who are residents of New South Wales, Australia. Respondents completed measures of AG, ATG, and QoL. In regression analyses controlling for length of stay, age, education background, relationship status, gender, region of origin, and length of residence, AG was positively associated with all outcomes of QoL, while positive ATG was negatively related to environmental health, social relationship quality, and general QoL. The interactive effects results reveal that AG is inversely associated with QoL outcomes among individuals with positive ATG, suggesting that the effects of secure AG may contribute to better QoL but not when moderated by feelings of positive ATG which seem theologically ineffective in terms of better QoL. The limitations and implications of study findings are discussed while emphasizing on the contrasts between emotions and feelings. I argued that our feelings can get in the way of the benefits of our relationship with God who plays the role of our ultimate attachment figure. The emotional quality of faith is enduring and reliable even in the dungeon of affliction and can translate to better quality of life.

A presentation at the 40th AFSAAP Conference, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Nov. 23 - ... more A presentation at the 40th AFSAAP Conference, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Nov. 23 - 24, 2017. This presentation looks at the strength of the attachment experiences of the African diaspora in New South Wales, Australia, and the extent to which these experiences are related to health-related quality of life?

The presentation explores an alternative interpretation of religious conflict as an aspect of att... more The presentation explores an alternative interpretation of religious conflict as an aspect of attachment-psychopathology. Paper was shared at the Religion, Conflict, and Peace Summer School, University of Groningen (14 – 18 Aug. 2017).

Spirituality and well-being are explored through frameworks of attachment and authenticity respec... more Spirituality and well-being are explored through frameworks of attachment and authenticity respectively. Spirituality was defined as an attachment to God experience, while conceptualizing well-being as the pursuit of authenticity and ability to stay true to one's self. 100 South African youths were recruited to participate in the study using the Attachment to God Inventory and Authenticity Scale to assess how dimensions of spirituality and well-being relate to each other. Results show significant correlations, proving that an insecure attachment to God experience can be a threat to maintaining psychological well-being, whereas having a secure relationship with God would naturally dispense a sense of authenticity and well-being.

Attachment and authenticity experiences were discussed as the building blocks of youth identity c... more Attachment and authenticity experiences were discussed as the building blocks of youth identity crisis. It was proposed that recognizing these central themes as the two greatest needs of young people would be the first practical step towards advocating for the youth in crisis.

A presentation that conceptualizes a hermeneutical approach that privileges the missio Dei, or th... more A presentation that conceptualizes a hermeneutical approach that privileges the missio Dei, or the mission of God, as the key to interpreting the stories of identity crisis and experiences of anxiety. The original notion of a missional hermeneutic stems from Wright and Hensbuger's works, and have thus been used to understand what is meant by a missional hermeneutic of care for Christian counselors.

Powerpoint presentation of my research on Youth Identity Crisis. The research was presented at th... more Powerpoint presentation of my research on Youth Identity Crisis. The research was presented at the 2015 Christian Youth Forum Stellenbosch on "Youth Identity Crisis: Finding God Without Losing Yourself".

Missionalia

The advancement of the technological culture, especially with the new web-based social media, pre... more The advancement of the technological culture, especially with the new web-based social media, presents a huge set of ethical and social challenges for the church and does more than simply change how we see things. Practicing the Christian mission in today’s media-rich world, where young people are not merely consumers, but also active creators of information can be very challenging. Cultural themes allow young people to process their uniqueness and engage the wider society in a creative bricolage, embracing certain aspects of their culture as fundamental features of their identity. These themes have brought issues of connectedness, relationality, and authenticity to the forefront. At core, quoting Newbigin, “the greatest intellectual and practical task facing the Church…is the development of a truly missionary encounter” (Newbigin 1993: 236) that will engage this very form of culture. More so, there is a need to redefine/understand the ontology the social media is creating and how this new technology creates new faith relationships and mission practice. I present a case of culture as a crisis and opportunity for the church.

Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific Approach (RELSPHE, volume 7), 2023

This book synthesizes perspectives on how ‘place’ is deeply intertwined with our spirituality and... more This book synthesizes perspectives on how ‘place’ is deeply intertwined with our spirituality and well-being. Split into three sections, this book brings together contributions from global scholars across a range of disciplines to unravel how the personal, social, and cultural spheres of place shape our spiritual experiences and overall well-being. It is an essential read for those interested in enriching their knowledge of the linkages between place, spirituality, and well-being, while also providing a foundation for future research on place and its intersections with both spirituality and well-being.

SpringerBriefs in Psychology

Springer, 2021

Rowman and Littlefield, 2021

In "The Roots of Radicalization: Disrupted Attachment Systems and Displacement", Victor Counted e... more In "The Roots of Radicalization: Disrupted Attachment Systems and Displacement", Victor Counted examines the expressions of attachment-related radicalization. Counted argues that radicalization is rooted in experiences of disrupted attachment in religion, places, or with people who are perceived as sources of security.

University of Groningen , 2019

This study investigates the intersection of religion and place in psychological perspective. Firs... more This study investigates the intersection of religion and place in psychological perspective. First, religion is conceptualised as an attachment experience involving how migrants and people of the diaspora seek and maintain attachment to God as a surrogate attachment, one who helps them navigate the uncertainties of place change. Second, people-place experience is discussed as an attachment experience, such that place becomes an object of exploration and attachment seeking, depending on the individual’s needs and curiosity. These two waves of adult attachment experiences are both explored historically (using biblical interpretation of place events in the bible) and empirically (using cross-sectional data from 175 African migrant populations in the Netherlands). Third, empirical results support the link between religious and place attachment, such that dispersed people of African background in Dutch society saw themselves turning to God as a surrogate attachment amidst negative place experiences (e.g. racial discrimination, feelings of insecurity about their future). There are significant variations in the study results based on demographic background factors such as region of residence, length of stay, and region of origin. What is consistent in the overall study is the role of seeking/maintaining attachment (to God) as a secure base from which to explore life opportunities in a foreign land. Turning away from such attachment security can be traumatic for migrants in the face of a rising wave of anti-migrant sentiments across western Europe.

Palgrave MacMillan, 2019

This book examines the role of religious and spiritual experiences in people’s understanding of t... more This book examines the role of religious and spiritual experiences in people’s understanding of their environment, and how their place experiences are transformed in the process. The contributors consider how understandings and experiences of religious and place connections are motivated by the need to seek and maintain contact with perceptual objects, so as to form meaningful relationship experiences. The purpose is not to engage in comparative religion or analyse different religious traditions in relation to place, but rather to understand how people’s perceptions of physical, imaginary and transpersonal objects shape their religious and place experiences. This book is one of the first scholarly attempts to discuss the psychological links between place and religious experiences. The chapters provide insights for understanding how people’s experiences with geographical places and the sacred serve as agencies for meaning-making, pro-social behaviour, and psychological adjustment in everyday life.

RUG News, 2019

Victor Counted examines the psychological aspects of experiences of religion and place in the con... more Victor Counted examines the psychological aspects of experiences of religion and place in the context of migration, youth and health. For his PhD thesis, he conducted research on the way that religious experiences contribute to the resilience of people living in foreign countries.

Nederlands Dagblad / Nederlands Daily Newspaper, 2019

Migratie wakkert ‘een diepe honger’ aan naar een langdurige relatie met God als beschermer en vad... more Migratie wakkert ‘een diepe honger’ aan naar een langdurige relatie met God als beschermer en vader. Dat gevoel draagt bij aan de geestelijke veerkracht van migranten.

$Research paper thumbnail of Psalm 137 is very recognizable for Africans in the Netherlands \ 'Voor Afrikaan in Nederland is Psalm 137 erg herkenbaar'$

Reformatorisch Daglad / Dutch Reformed Daily , 2019

Geloof in God betekent voor veel Afrikaanse migranten een veilige basis, van waaruit ze moedig de... more Geloof in God betekent voor veel Afrikaanse migranten een veilige basis, van waaruit ze moedig de mogelijkheden in het vreemde land kunnen verkennen. Zonder die „gehechtheid” is de kans groot dat hun nieuwe bestaan traumatisch verloopt.

Psychology Today, 2019

One way to express resilience is through pro-environmental behaviors and how we interact with and... more One way to express resilience is through pro-environmental behaviors and how we interact with and depend on activities or events in a geographical setting.

The Conversation, 2020

Migrants who have left their home countries due to conflicts or human rights violations, and lost... more Migrants who have left their home countries due to conflicts or human rights violations, and lost a caregiver (such as a parent or romantic partner), could be in dire need of a new caregiver. Migrants who are geographically separated from their loved ones need to reestablish a new attachment relationship with an available caregiver. Research on migrant attachment experiences presents a new way of looking at resilience within African diaspora communities.

Psychology Today, 2020

Dealing with the shock of a natural disaster through religiously framed cognitive, emotional, or ... more Dealing with the shock of a natural disaster through religiously framed cognitive, emotional, or behavioral responses can change one’s perspective and create a sense of hope amidst life's crisis. This coping style is pertinent to bushfire affected communities in Australia, with research evidence from disaster psychologists showing that comfort found in religious resources, beliefs, or practices generally leads to positive outcomes among disaster survivors.