Bruce was ordained in the Anglican Church (1980). He is a retired clinical and forensic psychologist. He was the Wicking Professor of Ageing and Practical Theology at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Charles Sturt University 2015-2019. Prior to that he coordinated the clinical psychology program at the University of Canberra (as an Associate Professor), was an Associate Professor at Sydney College of Divinity while teaching at Southern Cross College and St Marks National Theological College in Pastoral Care and Counselling. He has over 30 peer reviewed publications and has published 12 books in popular psychology (Random House, 1995; Wiley-Blackwell, 2017), practice of psychology (Australian Academic Press, 2008, 2011, 2016; Wiley-Blackwell, 2015; New Harbinger, 2018), Christian counselling (Harper Collins, 1994; Novinka Publishers, 2017) and academic practical theology (Fortress Academic, 2018; Lexington Press, 2020). He developed the idea of grounded theology, a qualitative research method adapted to theological research. His most recent academic books include The storied self: A narrative approach to the spiritual care of the aged (Lanham, Maryland: Fortress Academic, 2018) and Before belief: Discovering first spiritual awareness (Maryland: Lexington Press, 2020) in which he explored the idea of spiritual development prior to language. He is writing Broken, but... Recovery and growth after spiritual trauma. He is presently an associate minister at Wesley Uniting Church Canberra. He is married to Dr Ann Harvey as senior staff specialist in Radiology at Canberra Hospital.
Doctor of Philosophy (Pastoral Psychology) (Boston University), Religious responses to the Rorschach test: An application of the (1977) mutuality in autonomy in portrayed relationship’s scale – 1987
Master of Theology (Australian College of Theology) – 1981
LTh and Bachelor of Theology (Hons 2A) (Canberra College of Theology) – 1978
Australian Psychological Society
