Integrating Neuroscience Into Counseling Psychology: A Systematic Review of Current Literature

A systematic review was carried out to investigate what themes current academic journal publications discuss in relation to the integration of neuroscience into counseling psychology. After initial database searches, a thematic analysis was carried out on the available literature, determining the key themes and subjects of discussion across the data. Twenty-one publications were carried through to synthesis, with four main themes emerging. These were Biopsychosocial Topics of Discussion, Implications of Integration, Neuroscience Education and Integrating Neuropsychology. Further subthemes were discussed, providing a richer description of the publication content focus. There is currently a small body of literature associated with this paradigm. However, the literature available provides education and evidence of a number of topic areas in which neuroscience can be integrated into counseling psychology, as well as highlighting that recent publications may signal a reawakening of an earlier interest in the paradigm.