Jan Schürmann-Vengels

According to traditional definitions, clinical psychology encompasses the entire spectrum of research into mental disorders and mental processes in somatic diseases. This specialist discipline therefore deals comprehensively with the aetiological and maintaining factors of mental disorders, the diagnosis of problems and psychological treatments to alleviate symptoms and psychological suffering. A central task of clinical psychology is the evidence-based promotion, maintenance and restoration of mental health.

Mental health: what is it and for whom?
The team at our professorship, headed by Junior Professor Dr Jan Schürmann-Vengels, is looking at how mental health can be defined and conceptualised. For example, since 1948, the World Health Organisation has proposed a definition that considers a person's mental health primarily as individual well-being and flexible coping skills rather than the absence of disorders(WHO, 2022). We use confirmatory analysis methods in cross-sectional and longitudinal designs to test the factorial structure of mental health, for example, whether people's psychological distress and well-being are assessed as independent dimensions(Schürmann-Vengels et al., 2023 Clinical Psychology in Europe). In addition, we are investigating the implications for psychotherapy when mental health is conceptualised more broadly. For example, the question arises as to whether clinical psychology should only focus on the diagnosis and reduction of disorder-related factors. An additional focus on the well-being and strengths of patients could provide us with further information to improve treatments. In this regard, we also record patients' resources, i.e. aspects of their lives that are perceived as positive or functional. Several studies show that patients' self-perceived resources are related to positive processes and therapy outcome(Schürmann-Vengels et al., 2022 Journal of Clinical Psychology; Schürmann-Vengels et al., 2023 Psychotherapy Research). We are also interested in whether and how positive emotions arise in psychotherapy and how positive feelings can be specifically increased through interventions(Schürmann-Vengels et al., 2024 Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy).

Mental health does not come about in a vacuum, but is characterised by a person's individual experiences and context. This means that different factors can be relevant for health depending on the person. It is important to us to represent this diversity in clinical research and practice. We cooperate with national and international research groups in order to present the challenges, concerns and opportunities of minorities and marginalised groups. Our professorship focusses on the (mental) health and treatment experiences of LGBTQ+ people. Queer people are disproportionately affected by mental health problems due to discrimination and stigmatisation and therefore represent an important target group for clinical psychology. At the same time, queer topics have hardly been integrated into teaching, training and research. Knowledge of specific factors relevant to this target group is an important prerequisite for personalised and affirmative healthcare. We pursue principles of community-based and participatory research. We also attach great importance to science communication in order to make our results available to the LGBTQ+ communities and society as a whole.

Research specialisations:

• Resource diagnostics and resource activation
• Differential effects of capitalisation and compensation approaches
• Positive affects in psychotherapy
• Diversity in clinical psychology
• (Mental) health and treatment experiences of LGBTQ+ people
• Participatory research with queer people

• Psychotherapy process research

   

Current research projects and topics:

• Queer Mental Health - Longitudinal study on the mental health of LGBTQIA+ people in German-speaking countries
• SocNet-TNB - Differentiated recording of social networks of trans* and non-binary people
• PACIfIC - Randomised controlled implementation study to increase positive affect in cognitive behavioural therapy
• Perception of resources in the course of psychotherapy

Full licence to practice as a psychological psychotherapist (specialist in behavioural therapy)
 

Clinical specialisations:

• Transdiagnostic treatments
• Resource activation in psychotherapy
• LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy and accompanying therapy with trans* and non-binary people
• Treatment of anxiety disorders
• Cognitive behavioural therapy
• Plan analysis and motive-orientated relationship design

You can find a detailed overview in the complete Curriculum Vitae.

Since 05/2023
Junior professor for specific fields of activity in clinical psychology
Witten/Herdecke University

10/2022 - 04/2023
Lecturer for special tasks
Department of Clinical Psychology II (Prof. Dr Christoph Flückiger), University of Kassel

05/2022
Doctoral studies (Dr phil.) in Clinical Psychology
Witten/Herdecke University
PhD thesis title: Patients' subjective resources: Their assessment and incremental influence on psychotherapy process and outcome

09/2021
Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) Psychotherapy with a focus on behavioural therapy
University of Bern

11/2020 - 04/2023
Psychotherapist in own private practice
Joint practice Duisburg-Duissern

10/2020
Full licence to practice as a psychological psychotherapist
(Specialist knowledge: behavioural therapy)

09/2017 - 09/2022
Academic staff member
Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy I (Prof. Dr Ulrike Willutzki), Witten/Herdecke University

09/2017 - 08/2020
Outpatient psychotherapeutic work as part of the training to become a psychological psychotherapist
Centre for Mental Health and Psychotherapy, Witten/Herdecke University

09/2016 - 08/2017
Inpatient psychotherapeutic work as part of the training to become a psychological psychotherapist
Clinic for addictive behaviour and addiction medicine, LVR-Klinikum Essen

08/2016
Master of Science (M.Sc.) Clinical Psychology
Ruhr University Bochum

12/2014 - 09/2016
Student assistant
Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (Prof. Dr Jürgen Margraf), Ruhr-University Bochum

07/2014
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Psychology
Ruhr University Bochum

11/2011 - 09/2019
Scholarship of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes e.V.

Specialisations:

• Research and methods of clinical psychology,
• Practical implementation of psychotherapy

Current events:

• Professional qualification II - outpatient setting for adult patients
• Lecture series: Specialised disorders and procedures (substance use disorders, target group: LGBTQ+)
• Journal club on research methods in clinical psychology
• Project groups Research Methods in Clinical Psychology II: Preparation and supervision of Master's theses

• Mental health
  (definitions, what makes mentally healthy?)
• LGBTQ+ and queer issues
  (especially health, life realities and everyday experiences as well as healthcare and psychotherapy)
• Psychotherapy
  (effectiveness of psychotherapy, customisation of treatments for patients)

Memberships in scientific associations

• German Society for Psychology (DGPs)
• German Society for Behavioural Therapy (DGVT)
• Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR)

Further links

ResearchGate | Google Scholar | OSF | Web of Science