Committed to helping communities flourish

v.counted[at]westernsydney.edu.au

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connect[at]victorcounted.org

Proud father of Victor Alejandro Ikemba Counted

Married to Jessie Karina Counted

PhD in Psychology, Western Sydney University (2019)

PhD in Religious Studies, The University of Groningen (2019)

Director, COSORI Australia

Research Fellow, School of Psychology, Western Sydney University

Fellow, International Society of Science and Religion

School of Psychology, Western Sydney University

Zuphland International

Igbo 

African

Associate Pastor, LWWC Sydney Australia 

Counted Solutions Group

Trustee & Senior Policy Advisor, The Udoka Foundation

Check out my books and other publications here 

Adjunct Faculty & Research Associate, Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University (2015 – 2018)

research and practices that sustain and promote health,
community well-being, and human connection

New Books

Springer (October 2021) 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.
Place and Post-Pandemic Flourishing
Lexington Books (August 2021) This book examines the expressions of attachment-related radicalization. It argues that radicalization is rooted in experiences of disrupted attachment in religion, places, or with people who are perceived as sources of security. The book treats the subject of radicalization with great insight and empathy and interprets it in the light of recent cases of radicalization around the world.
The Roots of Radicalization

Vic Counted, PhD

For the past couple of years, Dr Counted’s research has sought to address the problem of health inequalities in vulnerable communities by identifying various aspects of environmental, psychosocial, and psychospiritual factors that shape health, community well-being, and quality of life.

He is has ‘cut his teeth’ in academia as an interdisciplinary scholar, psychological scientist, philosopher, practical theologian, and mental health researcher.  

Dr Counted has a PhD in Health Psychology (Western Sydney University, Australia) and a second PhD in Psychology of Religion (University of Groningen, Netherlands).

Vic, as fondly called by friends, is also a social entrepreneur, lecturer, christian minister, author, and speaker.

He currently lives in Sydney with his wife Jessie and son Victor.

Research Priorities

Key areas: minority health, migrant quality of life, suffering, mental health, human flourishing, 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, 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.

Spiritual/Pastoral health care, missional therapy, youth faith formation 

Research in Media
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