Extent of Counselor Training in Neuroscience-Informed Counseling Competencies

Little information currently exists on counselor preparation and preparedness to integrate neuroscience into counseling practice. To address this literature gap, we conducted a national descriptive survey study to examine the extent to which counselors had received training in American Mental Health Counselors Association’s Biological Bases of Behavior competencies. A survey was sent to a sample of 5,483 potential participants, and 4.85% of participants (N = 260) consented to participate in the survey research. Cumulatively, respondents reported exposure across all of the competencies with varying levels of training across items. Continuing education was a common pathway to training for many competencies and was often more common than graduate education. Participants reported that they had not yet received training in several competency areas. We discuss implications for counselor training and preparation.