Projects per year
Personal profile
Personal Statement
I am a Senior 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 intercultural meaning and relevance of the Strathclyde Inventory.
I have developed expertise in systematic case study research, in particular the Hermeneutic Single Case Efficacy Design method, which is an innovative approach to investigating the outcome and process of psychotherapy within individual cases. Series of case studies using this method can be synthesized to produce insightful learning and improve practice. I am also interested in supporting counselling practitioners and service providers 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).
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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MAPPED: An investigation of Mechanisms of Action in oPtimal Psychological therapies for Episodes of more severe Depression in adults
Stephen, S. (Principal Investigator), MacIntosh, H. (Co-investigator), Flowers, P. (Co-investigator), Elliott, R. (Co-investigator), Murphy, D. (Co-investigator), Barkham, M. (Co-investigator), Hardy, G. (Co-investigator), Saxon, D. (Co-investigator) & McIlree, R. (Co-investigator)
1/02/24 → 31/08/27
Project: Internally funded project
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An investigation of cultural differences in congruent functioning by collecting and comparing datasets using different language versions of the Strathclyde Inventory
Stephen, S. (Principal Investigator), Chen, S. (Co-investigator), Alhimaidi, A. (Co-investigator), Joseph, S. (Co-investigator), Lange, M. (Co-investigator) & Aguado, C. (Co-investigator)
1/09/23 → 31/08/26
Project: Research - no external funding
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The Handbook of Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Counselling: Third Edition
Di Malta, G. (Editor), Cooper, M. (Editor), O'Hara, M. (Editor), Stephen, S. (Editor) & Gololob, Y. (Editor), 3 Oct 2024, 3rd ed. 514 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
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The non-directive attitude
Stephen, S., 3 Oct 2024, The Handbook of Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Counselling. Di Malta, G., Cooper, M., O'Hara, M., Gololob, Y. & Stephen, S. (eds.). 3 ed. London, 14 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Open AccessFile
Thesis
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The Strathclyde inventory as a measure of outcome in person-centred therapy
Stephen, S. (Author), Elliott, R. (Supervisor) & Dixon, D. (Supervisor), 30 Apr 2020Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
Activities
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PCE Europe Symposium (Glasgow 2025)
Stephen, S. (Organiser), Schroeter, B. (Organiser), McIlree, R. (Organiser) & Liu, X. (Organiser)
20 Nov 2025 → 23 Nov 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Organiser of major conference
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Challenging perceptions of change. What happened in four cases of 'no change' person-centred therapy?
Stephen, S. (Speaker)
21 May 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation