TPC Journal-Vol 10- Issue 2-FULL ISSUE

212 The Professional Counselor | Volume 10, Issue 2 Table 1 Summary and Frequencies of Themes and Subthemes Theme Subtheme Description Frequency Sample Statements Theme One: Neuroscience does not align with our counselor identity Sub 1.1 Overemphasis and/or overreliance The integration of neuroscience in counseling may lead to counselors giving preference to non-humanistic aspects of the client and/or the treatment process (e.g., psychopharmacology, science, the brain). n = 27 • Too reliant on brain • Science over compassion • Defaulting to neuro • Brain obsession • Undervalue subjective experience Sub 1.2 Reductionism and/or determinism The integration of neuroscience in counseling may lead to counselors moving away from holistic conceptualizations and limiting human agency. n = 25 • Oversimplification • Takes away focus on interpersonal • Reducing human experience to just science • Cultural bias Theme Two: Neuroscience is outside the scope of counseling practice Sub 2.1 Training and education Counselors do not have sufficient training and/or educational backgrounds to ethically integrate neuroscience into counseling practice. n = 59 • Insufficient training • Woefully undertrained • Not having qualifications • Scope of training • No formal supervision Sub 2.2 Lack of standards for training and practice There are insufficient standards for guiding the training and practice of neuroscience integration. n = 21 • Lack of laws, regulations, and guidelines • Standards for qualifications • Qualifications of trainers Sub 2.3 Competence Counselors are integrating neuroscience into counseling practice without sufficient knowledge and/or skills. n = 69 • Lack of knowledge • Scope of competence • Not being informed • Skill level of clinician Theme Three: Challenges with neuroscience and the nature of neuroscience research Sub 3.1 Ever-changing and evolving The field of neuroscience is continuously evolving, serving as a barrier to counselors staying sufficiently up to date to ethically integrate principles into counseling practice. n = 14 • Ever-changing and not totally understood • Staying current • Constantly evolving • Keeping up to date • Vastness of the field Sub 3.2 Quality of research Neuroscience research is often too complex, poorly conducted, and/or insufficient for counselors to apply to their work. n = 23 • More research needed • Poor research • Generalizability of research • Lack of scientific foundation of knowledge • Unknown practical use Sub 3.3 Interpreting and applying research Neuroscience research is being misunderstood, misinterpreted, and/or inaccurately applied to clinical practice. n = 52 • Accurately interpreting and applying • Overstatement • Misrepresenting science information • Giving incorrect information