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Victor Counted, Ph.D.Director, Office of Research & Sponsored Programs, Academic AffairsAssociate Professor, School of Psychology & CounselingMore about Victor Counted, Ph.D.

Victor Counted, Ph.D.

Bio

Dr. Victor Counted is an Associate Professor of Psychology, Director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at 91, and Program Director for Abundant Life Flourishing. Counted is a Faculty Affiliate of Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program and a Fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion. He has 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, Netherlands. He serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Positive Psychology and Editor of Springer’s Religion, Spirituality, and Health book series.

Dr. Counted has authored over 70 peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly publications that examine the psychological processes — psychosocial, psychospiritual, psychospatial, and neuropsychological — that shape human flourishing across different cultural contexts. His work explores how these dimensions interact to support, sustain, and strengthen flourishing and how disruptions to these processes can lead to challenges that require adaptive responses. He also utilizes a unique integrative flourishing framework that integrates psychological science and practice with cross-cultural healthcare practices to develop evidence-based, theoretically driven research interventions that promote health and well-being for individuals and communities.

Credentials

  • Ph.D., Health Psychology, Western Sydney University, Australia
  • Ph.D., Psychology of Religion, University of Groningen, Netherlands

Publications

Books

Counted, V. (forthcoming 2025). Bonding With God: Attachment Theory & the Psychology of Faith. Baker Academic

Counted, V, Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L., & Cowden, R.G. (eds.) (2023). Place, Spirituality, and Wellbeing: A global and multidisciplinary approach. Springer

Counted, V, Cowden, R.G., & Ramkissoon, H. (2021). Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing: Disruption, Adjustment, and Healthy Behaviors. Springer

Counted, V. (2021). The Roots of Radicalization: Disrupted Attachment Systems and Displacement. Lexington Books/Rowman & Littlefield

Counted, V. & Watts, F. eds. (2019). The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Palgrave MacMillan.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Żemojtel-Piotrowska, M., Sawicki, A., Piotrowski, J., Lifshin, U., Kretchner, M., Skowronski, J. J., Sedikides, C., Jonason, P. K., Adamovic, M., Ahmed, O., Atitsogbe, K. A., Al-Shawaf, L., Appiah, S. C. Y., Ardi, R., Azam, U., Babakr, Z. H., Baldursson, E. B., Bălțătescu, S., Bochaver, K., Bolatov, A., Bonato, M., Bundhoo, H. Y., Chaleeraktrakoon, T., Chobthamkit, P., Cowden, R. G., Counted, V., de Clunie, G., Dragova-Koleva, S., Esteves, C. S., Gouveia, V. V., Gundolf, K., Hamouda, S., Haretche, C., Jeong, E. H. K., Iliško, D., Malik, N. I., Aruta, J. J. B., Jia, F., Jovanović, V., Jukić, T., Jukić, D. P., Kamble, S. V., Khachatryan, N., Klicperova-Baker, M., Kogler, C., Knezović, E., Koralov, M., Kovacs, M., Eldesoki, W. L. M., Larzabal Fernandez, A., Liik, K., Malik, S., Maltby, J., Malysheva, K., Mamuti, A., Mangafic, J., Moon, C., Milfont, T. L., Muehlbacher, S., Najafi, R., Özsoy, E., Park, J., Pérez de León, P., Polackova Solcova, I., Ramos-Diaz, J., Ridic, G., Riđić, O., Samekin, A., Spoto, A., Starc, A., Stefenel, D., Trà, K. T. T., Tiliouine, H., Tomšik, R., Torres-Marín, J., Umeh, C. S., Wills-Herrera, E., Wlodarczyk, A., Vally, Z., Vauclair, C.-M., Yahiiaiev, I., & Zand, S. (2024). Scientific Reports, 14, 17503.

Counted, V., Cowden, R.G., & Lomas, T. (2024). Journal of Happiness Studies  25(51). Advanced online publication.

Counted, V., Baum, L., Smith, R., Kane, A., Williams, S., Joynt, S., & Garzon, F. (2024). Journal of Psychology and Christianity 43(2), 152-170.

Counted, V., Garzon, F., Hathaway, W.L., McKinzie, G., Stephens, R., Francis, L.J. (2024). Journal of Psychology and Christianity 43(2), 190-204.

Long, K., Counted, V., Fogleman, A., Lee, M.T., Johnson, B.R., VanderWeele, T.J., (2024). Human Flourishing Program, Abundant Life Flourishing Program, Institute for Studies of Religion, ISR Special Report

Counted, V., Cowden, R. G., & Lomas, T. (2024). Cities, 149, 104987.

Allen, K. A., Slaten, C., Hong, S., Lan, M., Craig, H., May, F., & Counted, V. (2024). Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, 21(05), 1-55.

Counted, V., Meagher, B., & Cowden, R. (2024). Ecopsychology, 16(1), 60-70.

Case, B., Counted, V., Ritchie-Dunham, J., Cowden, R., Gibson, C. Koga, H., Lomas, T., & Padgett, N. (2023). International Journal of Wellbeing, 13(4), 3555, 1-35.

Counted, V. & Newheiser, D. (2023). The Journal of Positive Psychology. Online publication ahead of print.

Rzóska, P., Żemojtel-Piotrowska, M., Piotrowski, J., Nowak, B., Jonason, P., Sedikides, C., Adamovic, M., Atitsogbe, K., Ahmed, O., Azam, U., Bălțătescu, S., Bochaver, K., Bolatov, A., Bonato, M., Counted, V., Chaleeraktrakoon, T., Ramos-Diaz, J., Dragova-Koleva, S., Eldesoki, W. L., Esteves, C., Gouveia, V., Perez de Leon, P., Iliško, D., Datu, J., Jia, F., Jovanović, V., Jukić, T., Khachatryan, N., Kovacs, M., Lifshin, U., Larzabal-Fernandez, A., Liik, K., Malik, S., Moon, C., Muelhbacher, S., Najafi, R., Oruç, E., Park, J., Šolcová, I., Ardi, R., Ridic, O., Ridic, G., Said, Y., Starc, A., Stefenel, D., Trà, K., Tiliouine, H., Tomšik, R., Torres-Marin, J., Umeh, C., Wills-Herrera, E., Wlodarczyk, A., Vally, Z., Yahiiaiev, I. (2023). Thinking and Reasoning. Adavanced publication ahead of print.

Nwokolo, O., & Counted, V. (2023). Journal of Anglican Studies, 1-22.

Counted, V., Meagher, B., & Cowden, R. (2023). Ecopsychology. Ahead of print

Wilson Fadiji, A., de la Rosa, P.A., Counted, V., De Kock, J.H., Bronkhorst, W.L.R., Joynt, S., Tesfai, A., Nyamaruze, P., Govender, K. & Cowden, R.G. (2023). Psychological Reports.

Kent, B. V., Cowden, R. G., Counted, V., Davis, E. B., Rueger, S. Y., & Worthington Jr, E. L. (2022). Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 61(3-4)642-662

Captari, L. E., Cowden, R. G., Sandage, S. J., Davis, E. B., Bechara, A. O., Joynt, S., & Counted, V. (2022) Religious/spiritual struggles and depression during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in the Global South: Evidence of moderation by positive religious coping and hope. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality 14(3), 325–337.

Shiba, K., Cowden, R.G., Counted, V., VanderWeele, T.J., & Fancourt, D. Associations of home confinement during COVID-19 lockdown with subsequent health and well- being among UK adults. Current Psychology. Advance online publication:

Neff, M.A., Masilela, L., Cowden, R.G., & Counted, V. (2022). Religion, Migration, and the New African Diaspora: A Psychological Perspective. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion

Counted, V. & Abraham, I. (2022). Introduction to the Special Issue on Religion, Spirituality, and the New African Diaspora. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion

Cowden, R.G., Davis, E.B., Counted, V., Chen, Y., Rueger, S.Y., VanderWeele, T.J., Lemke, A.W., Glowiak, K.J., Worthington Jr., E.L. (2021). Suffering, Mental Health, and Psychological Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study of U.S. Adults with Chronic Health Conditions. Wellbeing, Space, and Society 2, 100048.

Cowden, R. G., Rueger, S. Y., Davis, E. B., Counted, V., Kent, B. V., Chen, Y., VanderWeele, T. J., Rim, M., Lemke, A. W., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2021). Resource loss, positive religious coping, and suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort study of U.S. adults with chronic illness. Mental Health, Religion, & Culture. Advance online publication:

Counted, V, Neff, M., Captari, L., Cowden, R. (2021). Transcending place attachment disruptions during a public health crisis: Spiritual struggles, resilience, and transformation. Journal of Psychology and Christianity 39(4), 276-286.

Possamai, A., Long, G., & Counted, V. (2021). An Analysis of Australian Research Council’s Grants in Religion. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion 34 (1), 74-95

Renzaho, A., Counted, V., Mansouri, F., Polonsky, M. (2021). The influence region of origin, area of residence prior to migration, religion, and perceived discrimination on acculturation strategies among sub-Saharan African migrants in Australia. Journal of International Migration and Integration 23 (1), 141-160

Counted, V., Pargament, K., Bechara, A.O., Joynt, S., & Cowden, R.G. (2020). Hope and well-being in vulnerable contexts during COVID-19 pandemic: Does religious coping matter? The Journal of Positive Psychology 17 (1), 70-81

Possamai, A., Jinks, T., & Counted, V. (2020). Conventional and unconventional forms of religiosity: identifying predictive factors and wellbeing outcomes. Journal for the Study of Spirituality 10(2), 155-170.

Counted, V., Possamai, A., McAuliffe, C., & Meade, T. (2020). Attachment to Australia, Attachment to God, and Quality of Life Outcomes in African Christian Diaspora. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health 22(1), 65-95.

Counted, V. (2019). The Role of Spirituality in Promoting Sense of Place among Foreigners of African Background in the Netherlands. Ecopsychology 11(2), 101–109.

Counted, V. (2019). Domains of Religious Coping Behaviour among African Christians in New South Wales, Australia: An exploratory qualitative study. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health 21(3), 215-236.

Counted, V. & Zock, H.T. (2019). Place Spirituality: an attachment perspective. Archive for the Psychology of Religion 41(1), 12–25.

Counted, V. & Watts, F. A Space of Transition and Transaction: A rejoinder to selected commentaries on place spirituality. Archive for the Psychology of Religion 41(1), 43–52.

Counted, V. (2019). Sense of Place Attitudes and Quality of Life Outcomes among African Residents in a Multicultural Australian Society. Journal of Community Psychology 47(2), 338-355.

Counted, V., Moustafa, A.A., & Renzaho, A. (2019). Migration and socio-demographic factors associated with the sense of place attitudes of sub-Saharan Africans in northern and western Netherlands. Journal of Community Psychology 47(2), 238-253.

Counted, V. (2019). African Christian Diaspora Religion and/or spirituality: A concept analysis and re-interpretation. Critical Research in Religion 7(1), 58-79.

Counted, V. (2018). The Circle of Place Spirituality: Toward a motivational systems theory in the psychology of religion. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion 29, 149-178.

Counted, V. (2018). Global avoidant attachment predicts indicators of caregiving faith in Australian-based African Christians in New South Wales. Journal for the Academic Study of Religion 30(1), 55-74.

Counted, V., Possamai, A., & Meade, T. (2018). Relational Spirituality and Quality of Life 2007 to 2017: An integrative research review. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 16:75.

Counted, V. & Miller, J.R. (2018). Pastoral Juxtaposition in Spiritual Care: Toward a caregiving faith theology in an evangelical Christian context. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 74(2), a4630.

Counted, V. (2017). Attachment Theory and Religious Violence: Theorizing Adult Religious Psychopathology. Journal for the Study of Religion 30(1), 78-109.

Counted, V. & Watts, F. (2017). Place Attachment in the Bible: The role of attachment to sacred places in religious life. Journal of Psychology and Theology 45(3), 218-232.

Counted, V. & Moustafa, A.A. (2017). Between God and Self: Exploring the attachment to God and authenticity/inauthenticity tendencies of South African Christian youths. Mental Health, Religion & Culture 20(2), 109-127.

Counted, V. (2016). Making Sense of Place Attachment: Towards a Holistic Understanding of People-place Relationships and Experiences. Environment, Space, & Place 8(1), 7-32.

Counted, V. (2016). Being Authentic is the New Image: A study of authenticity and selfhood among south African Christian millennials. Mental Health, Religion and Culture 19(3), 268–294.

Counted, V. (2016). The Psychology of Youth Faith Formation: A Care-giving Faith? Journal of Youth and Theology 15 (2), 146 – 172.

Counted, V. Missionizing Youth Identity Crisis: Towards a missional hermeneutic of care in youth ministry practice. Missionalia: Southern African Journal of Missiology, 41(1), 82-102.

Counted, V. & Arawole, J. ‘We Are Connected, But Constrained': Internet Inequality and the Challenges of Millennials in Africa as Actors in Innovation. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 5(3), 1-21.

Counted, V. (2016). God as an Attachment Figure: A Case Study of the God Attachment Language and God Concepts of Anxiously Attached Christian Youths in South Africa. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health 18(4), 316-346.

Counted, V. (2015). God Images and God Concepts: Towards a pastoral hermeneutic of the God attachment experience. Verbum et Ecclesia 36(1), a1389.

Counted, V. (2015). African Women, Religion, and Health: Essays in Honour of Mercy Amba Ewudziwa Oduyoye. Journal of Religion and Health 54(6), 350–354.

Book Chapters

Counted, V., Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L. E., & Cowden, R. G. (Eds.). (2023). Place, Spirituality, and Well-Being: A Global and Multidisciplinary Approach (Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific Approach Vol. 7). Springer Nature.

Counted, V., Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L. E., & Cowden, R. G. (2023). In Counted, V., Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L. E., & Cowden, R. G. (eds.), Place, Spirituality, and Well-Being: A Global and Multidisciplinary Approach (pp. 1-18). Springer.

Counted, V., Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L. E., & Cowden, R. G. (2023). In Counted, V., Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L. E., & Cowden, R. G. (eds.), Place, Spirituality, and Well-Being: A Global and Multidisciplinary Approach (pp. 273-286). Springer.

Neff, M. A., Page, C. D., Cowden, R. G., Waters, D. J., & Counted, V. (2023). In Counted, V., Ramkissoon, H., Captari, L. E., & Cowden, R. G. (eds.), Place, Spirituality, and Well-Being: A Global and Multidisciplinary Approach (pp. 69-85). Springer.

Cowden, R.G., Counted, V., & Ho, M.Y. (2022). Positive Psychology and Religion/Spirituality Across Cultures in Africa, Asia, and Oceania. In: E. B. Davis, E. L. Worthington, Jr., & S. A. Schnitker (eds.), Handbook of positive psychology, religion, and spirituality. Springer.

Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021) Protest, Despair, and Detachment: Reparative Responses to Place Attachment Disruptions During a Pandemic. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 55-67.  Springer

Cowden R.G., Counted V., Ramkissoon H. (2021) Transcending Place Attachment Disruption: Strengthening Character During a Pandemic. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 81-92.  Springer.

Cowden R.G., Counted V., Ramkissoon H. (2021) Adapting to Place Attachment Disruption During a Pandemic: From Resource Loss to Resilience. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 71-80. Springer.

Cowden R.G., Counted V., Ramkissoon H. (2021) Place Attachment and Suffering During a Pandemic. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 45-54. Springer.

Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021) Place Attachment and Resource Loss During a Pandemic: An Ecological Systems Perspective. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 33-44. Springer.

Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021) Place Attachment During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 15-32. Springer.

Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021) Place Attachment During a Pandemic: An Introduction. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 1-11. Springer.

Counted V., Cowden R.G., Ramkissoon H. (2021) Pro-environmental Behavior, Place Attachment, and Human Flourishing: Implications for Post-pandemic Research, Theory, Practice, and Policy. In: Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing, pp 93-108. Springer

El-Essawy, M.H.I., Solimana, A.M.A., Morris, A., Counted, V., Eissaa, A.M., Valikhanic, A., & Moustafa, A. A. (2021). Religious delusions in psychotic patients: Prevalence, possible origin, and effects. In: Moustafa, A.A. (ed.), Cognitive and Behavioral Dysfunction in Schizophrenia (pp. 87-113). Academic Press

Counted, V. & Possamai, A. (2020). Confidence in the Australian Society, Belief in Demons, and Practice of Exorcism: The mediating and moderating role of spirituality. In: A. Possamai & G. Giordan (eds.), The Social Scientific Study of Exorcism in Christianity, (pp 217-236). Springer.

Counted, V. (2020). Attachment Theory and the Study of Religion. In: Adam Possamai and Joseph Blasi (Eds.), SAGE Encyclopedia for the Sociology of Religion. SAGE.

Counted, V. (2020). Quantitative Data Research Software. In: Adam Possamai and Joseph Blasi (Eds.), SAGE Encyclopedia for the Sociology of Religion. SAGE.

Counted, V. & Watts, F. (2019). Defining the psychology of religion and place: a concept analysis. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan.

Counted, V. (2019). The Psychology of Place Spirituality: A Cascade of Parallel Processes. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan.

Counted, V. & Watts, F. (2019). An Introduction to the Psychology of Religion and Place. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan.

Counted, V. & Meade, T. (2019). Why and How Environmental and Religious Attachments Matter for Health Promotion. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan.

Counted, V. (2019). Religion, Place, and Attachment: An Evaluation of Conceptual Frameworks. In: V. Counted & F. Watts (eds.), The Psychology of Religion and Place: Emerging Perspectives. Springer/Palgrave MacMillan.

Magazine Articles

Counted, V. (2022). Consider the Least of These: Sternberg’s Three Principles of Love and COVID-19. Christianity Today.

Counted, V., Cowden, R., & Kaftanski, W. (2022). Remembering our lost ties to place. ABC Religion & Ethics.

Counted, V. (2021). Can radicalisation be defeated? Yes, if we understand that it happens when people’s bonds are broken. The Conversation

Counted, V. & Cowden, R.G. (2021). Sustaining Well-being in the Absence of Hope. Psychology Today!

Counted, V. (2020). Migrants and the bond with God: attachment and survival are linked. The Conversation

Counted, V., Pargament, K.I., Cowden, R.G. (2020). Hope and religion in a time of crisis: evidence from Colombia and South Africa. The Conversation

Counted, V. (2020). Can religious coping help bushfire survivors? Psychology Today!

Counted, V. (2020). The Security of Place and Resilience. Psychology Today!

Counted, V. (2019). Experiencing God in a Foreign Land. University of Groningen News

Affiliations

  • Harvard University’s Human Flourishing Program
  • American Psychological Association
  • International Association for the Psychology of Religion
  • International Association for People-Environment Studies
  • Society for the Psychology of Religion in Australia and New Zealand
  • Global Flourishing Study
  • Place Attachment Network
  • Western Sydney University’s School of Psychology
  • Australian Association for the Study of Religion
  • Society for the Scientific Study of Religion
  • Society for the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

Awards

Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) Networking Grant, 2023

Fellow (FISSR) of the International Society for Science and Religion, 2021

Recipient of the Wessel Ganzevoort Award for outstanding PhD thesis, University of Groningen, 2019

Dean’s HDR Research Award, Western Sydney University, 2016

Research Fellowship Award, Stellenbosch University, 2015

Leadership Excellence Award (Student Union President), West Africa Theological Seminary, 2012