DR VIC counted
working to support, sustain, and strengthen what makes communities flourish
Victor A. Counted, PhD, is an interdisciplinary psychologist, social scientist and incoming associate professor in the School of Psychology and Counselling, College of Health and Behavioral Sciences at Regent University, Virginia USA. He is also Faculty Affiliate of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and has previously worked as a researcher and lecturer in South Africa, Nigeria, Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Australia.
Vic has published six books and over 50 research articles and scholarly chapters examining various aspects of psychosocial, psychospiritual, and human-environment processes that support health and well-being across cultures, and is known for his contribution to the dialogue between psychology and religion.
Dr Vic Counted has degrees in theology, social sciences, and holds a Ph.D. in Health Psychology (Western Sydney University, Australia) and a second Ph.D. in Psychology of Religion (The University of Groningen, Netherlands).
email: connect@victorcounted.org
latest books from dr counted


Trained as an interdisciplinary social scientist, health psychologist, and practical theologian, Dr Counted’s body of work has sought to address various aspects of psychosocial, psychospiritual, and human-environment processes that support and sustain human flourishing across cultures.
Key areas: minority health, migrant quality of life, suffering, mental health, human flourishing, physical health, psychological well-being, social relationships, spiritual well-being, environmental health;
Key research topics: place attachment, religious/spiritual attachment, attachment with adult caregivers, attachment psychopathology, attachment & radicalization;
Key interests: religious coping, spiritual struggles, religion & wellbeing, religion & place, spiritual care, God representations, relational spirituality, attachment-religion framework, African diaspora religion, religion & migration, religious psychopathology;
Attachment radicalization framework, religious psychopathology, religious conflicts, conservative nationalism, psychology of conspiracy beliefs
Expertise: sense of place, community belonging, place attitudes, place attachment, sacred places, people-place relationships, pro-environmental behaviors;
Interests: migration & health, religion & migration, migrant social integration, sense of belonging, African diaspora, acculturation strategies
Research topics: coping, self-transcendence, authenticity, resilience, hope, well-being, meaning-making, character strengths.
Psychosocial healing systems, protective psychological resources, religious coping, cross-cultural well-being practices, spiritual care across cultures
Research in Media
- PSYCHOLOGY TODAY! — Sustaining Well-being in the Absence of HopeOpens in a new tab
- THE CONVERSATION — Migrants and the bond with God: attachment and survival are linkedOpens in a new tab
- THE CONVERSATION — Hope and religion in a time of crisis: evidence from Colombia and South AfricaOpens in a new tab
- The CONVERSATION — Can radicalization be defeated? Yes, if we understand that it happens when people's bonds are brokenOpens in a new tab
- ABC Religion & Ethics — Remembering our lost ties to PlaceOpens in a new tab
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I was on the ABC National Radio talking about covid and flourishingFebruary 17, 2022/0 Comments
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Radicalised people are broken people with fractured bondsOctober 3, 2021/
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Remembering Our Lost Ties To PlaceFebruary 17, 2022/
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