Counselors' Neuroscience Conceptualizations of Depression

Abstract

The authors conducted the first-ever study into counselor conceptualization of client problems using neuroscience theories. The authors selected an embedded mixed-methods design. Participants (N = 334) provided quantitative demographic information and responded to an open-ended qualitative question regarding a hypothetical situation of a client asking the counselor to explain depression from a neuroscience perspective. The authors coded, tallied, and transformed qualitative responses to quantitative data via frequency counts. Kappa coefficients for the coding team exceeded the threshold for acceptable reliability. Approximately half of the counselors applied neuroscience theories to explain client experiences of depression (57.7%, n = 194), and some counselors integrated multiple neuroscience theories in their response (23.2%, n = 45). The monoamine and neuroplasticity theories were the two most common neuroscience theories for depression. Implications for research and training are discussed.