ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to define, illustrate, and integrate neuroscience and neurocounseling into the knowledge base of the current human growth and development literature. The chapter will introduce and differentiate neuroscience, neurocounseling, neurotherapy, and neurofeedback. These constructs must be understood to thoroughly integrate them into counselor education curricula. Basic functional neuroanatomy, specifically the brain and the polyvagal system, and the correlation of physiology to many of our mental health symptoms and concerns will be examined. One illustration will be understanding how the amygdala’s volume changes under extreme trauma, thereby overriding the prefrontal cortex’s efficiency. Helping trauma clients with their overactivated flight, fight, and freeze reactions and underutilized social engagement skills is essential to neurocounseling and its treatment applications.
