Dr Susan Stephen
Lecturer
Counselling
Personal statement
I am a Lecturer in Counselling and Director of the Strathclyde Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Clinic, a long-term research study investigating the process and outcome of person-centred-experiential therapy in practice.
The main focus of my own research is the concept of congruent functioning: a contemporary redefining of the process of psychological growth at the core of Rogers' person-centred theory. I am interested in the development of congruent functioning for clients in counselling and also counsellors in training.
I developed a model of congruent functioning from my work investigating the validity of the Strathclyde Inventory, a brief self-report instrument, using data collected from clients participating in counselling at the Strathclyde Counselling and Psychotherapy Research Clinic. Currently, I am working with international colleagues to explore the cross-cultural relevance of the Strathclyde Inventory.
I am developing expertise in systematic case study research and in measure development. I am interested in supporting counselling practitioners to expand their understanding of the value and limitations of using routine outcome measurement in their practice.
I am a co-editor of the international peer-reviewed journal, Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies (PCEP), and former Chair of the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies and Counseling (WAPCEPC).
Publications
- Questioning Psychology: Beyond Theory and Control by Brian E. Levitt by Brian E. Levitt, Ontario, Canada, PCCS Books, 2019, 161 pp., £17.99 (paperback), ISBN: 9781910919484
- Stephen Susan
- Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/14779757.2023.2255645
- Congruent functioning : the continuing resonance of Rogers' theory
- Stephen Susan
- Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies Vol 22, pp. 397-416 (2023)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/14779757.2022.2164334
- The non-directive attitude
- Stephen Susan
- The Handbook of Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Counselling (2022) (2022)
- The Strathclyde inventory : development of a brief instrument for assessing outcome in counseling according to Rogers' concept of the fully functioning person
- Stephen Susan, Elliott Robert
- Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development Vol 55, pp. 187-206 (2022)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2021.1955213
- Comparing helpful and hindering processes in good and poor outcome cases : a qualitative meta synthesis of eight Hermeneutic Single Case Efficacy Design studies
- Stephen Susan, Bell Laura, Khan Maha, Love Ruth, Macintosh Hannah, Martin Melanie, Moran Rebecca, Price Emily, Whitehead Brigid, Elliott Robert
- Psychotherapy Research Vol 32, pp. 389–403 (2022)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2021.1934746
- Comparing helpful and hindering processes in good and poor outcome cases : a qualitative meta synthesis of eight Hermeneutic Single Case Efficacy Design studies
- Stephen Susan, Bell Laura, Khan Maha, Love Ruth, Macintosh Hannah, Martin Melanie, Moran Rebecca, Price Emily, Whitehead Brigid, Elliott Robert
- Psychotherapy Research Vol 32, pp. 389–403 (2022)
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2021.1934746
Professional Activities
- PCE 2024 Conference (Event)
- Advisor
- 9/9/2024
- Lead organiser of 2023 Mary Kilborn Lecture
- Recipient
- 11/5/2023
- PCE 2022 Conference
- Keynote/plenary speaker
- 5/7/2022
- Holding true: The continuing resonance of Rogers' theory
- Keynote speaker
- 5/7/2022
- Investigating the cross-cultural relevance of the Strathclyde Inventory: A pilot study
- Speaker
- 20/5/2022
- Edge Hill University
- Visiting researcher
- 29/11/2021
Projects
- Mental Health Futures Collaborative
- Cogan, Nicola (Principal Investigator) Parra Rodriguez, Mario (Principal Investigator) Fleming, Leanne (Principal Investigator) Quinn, Neil (Principal Investigator) Tse, Dwight (Principal Investigator) Knifton, Lee (Principal Investigator) McCann, Lisa (Principal Investigator) Maguire, Roma (Principal Investigator) Smith, Matthew (Principal Investigator) Graham, Christopher Darryl (Principal Investigator) Grealy, Madeleine (Principal Investigator) Stephen, Susan (Principal Investigator) Weir, Natalie Mcfadyen (Principal Investigator) Donnachie, Craig (Principal Investigator) Cameron, Julie (Principal Investigator) Kane, Tony (Co-investigator) Lakey, Trevor (Academic) Donovan, Kevin (Fellow)
- This Engage with Strathclyde event is aimed at all those with an interest in mental health including people with lived experience, NHS and social care personnel and staff, occupational health and human resource management staff, student support services, university student and staff, academics, private and public sector and other personnel interested in mental health research and knowledge exchange.
- 12-Jan-2023 - 12-Jan-2023
- A pilot study of the relationship between interaction of the caregivers and the care recipients of dementia and their anxiety in residential aged care
- Stephen, Susan (Co-investigator)
- International Collaborator: Yu, P.; Traynor, V.; Barkus, E.; Li, M.; Qian, S. Carrigan, N. & Stephen, S. (2015) A pilot study of the relationship between interaction of the caregivers and the care recipients of dementia and their anxiety in residential aged care UOW, Global Challenges. AU$10,000.
- 05-Jan-2016 - 20-Jan-2016