Date
12-5-2022
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Kelly Orr
Keywords
neuroscience, counseling, integration, neuroeducation, trauma
Disciplines
Counseling | Psychology
Recommended Citation
Wood, Daniel Ross, "The Integration of Neuroscience and Counseling Using Neuroeducation in Trauma Treatment: A Quantitative Study" (2022). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 4013.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/4013
Abstract
Researchers in numerous professional fields, including psychology, have applied neuroscience integration in their studies. Yet research has also demonstrated a hesitancy among counselors to utilize neuro-informed principles in case conceptualization and treatment. No researchers in the studies found among the mental health counseling fields considered this issue. If left unaddressed, counselors and clinicians may avoid the use of an effective and complimentary integrative approach or unintentionally misapply neuro-informed principles and violate ethical standards in practice. This quantitative research used a survey and case study design to consider mental health professional characteristic variables of self-competency, theoretical attitude, and strength of religious beliefs as measured by the Counselor Self-Efficacy Scale, the Theoretical Orientation Profile Scale-Revised, and the Dimensions of Religiosity Scale respectively. Correlation between these variables and neuroeducation use in case conceptualization and treatment was measured via correlation analysis. Results showed a significant positive relationship between the characteristic variables and use of neuroeducation. Moderated regression analysis further indicated strength of religious beliefs had a moderating effect on the relationship between self-competency and neuroeducation use but not in relation to theoretical attitude. Results of a multivariate analysis of variance showed consistency of neuroeducation use among segments of the mental health field. A review of current literature related to neuroscience integration, neuroeducation, and neuro-informed trauma treatment clarifies pertinent issues, defines the problem of limited integration, identifies factors that influence use, and suggests areas of future research. Data was collected through an online survey via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk and Survey Monkey from a diverse group of allied mental health professionals.
