Dr Dorcas received both his undergraduate degree in Psychology and his Master's degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Montreal, Canada. With a deep interest in the Chinese language and culture, he then studied Chinese in Beijing before arriving in Hong Kong in 1991. After completing a PhD in the Psychology Department at The University of Hong Kong, he began teaching at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 1995.

He has taught a wide range of subjects in psychology and counselling both at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Besides teaching, he also spent several years as a Counselling Psychologist in private practice working with a broad range of clients. He brings this experience and knowledge to his teaching and supervision with students.

He received a first award for excellent teaching from the Department of Nursing and Health Sciences (now School of Nursing) in 1999 and one from the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences in 2013. He has also been a two-time nominee for the university's President's Award for Excellence. In his own words:

“It is an honor and a privilege to guide others along a path that has meaning and value, a path that allows us all to grow in knowledge about ourselves and the world we live in and to learn skills that make navigating this world a bit easier and more fulfilling. Teaching to me is more than simply imparting knowledge, it is to a large extent facilitating others to find their unique strengths and supporting them as they grow in their ability to trust and rely on these strengths as they forge their way in the world.”

Dr Dorcas is also an avid practitioner of mindful forms of meditation and has practiced meditation for more than 30 years. This he finds very helpful in staying present and focused in the now.

• B.Sc. in Psychology (The University of Montreal)
• M.Ps. in Counselling Psychology (The University of Montreal) (Thesis: "Respiration and psychological well-being")
• PhD. in Psychology (The University of Hong Kong) (Thesis: "Qigong: An Investigation into the psychological effects of Chinese meditation")