Neuroscience-Informed Counseling: Brain-Based Clinical Approaches

Thomas A. Field, PhD, LMHC (MA, WA), LPC (OR, VA), LPC-MH (SD), NCC, CCMHC, ACS, is an associate professor and head of counselor, adult, and higher education in the College of Education at Oregon State University. He was previously a faculty member at Boston University School of Medicine. Thom holds a PhD in counseling and supervision from James Madison University. His research focuses on the integration of neuroscience into counseling practice and professional and social justice advocacy. He has published numerous articles and authored two books on the topic of neuroscience integration. Thom is currently a member of a research team that is studying the development of an emerging counseling theory called neuroscience-informed cognitive behavior therapy. Since 2017, Thom has served as the associate editor of the Neuroscience-Informed Counseling section of the Journal of Mental Health Counseling. He is a former coeditor of the “Neurocounseling: Bridging Brain and Behavior” column in Counseling Today magazine. In addition to performing faculty responsibilities, he has actively helped clients with mental health concerns since 2006. He has provided counseling to more than 1,000 clients during his career and currently maintains a small private practice.   Laura K. Jones, PhD, MS, is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, where she teaches coursework in both health and wellness promotion and neuroscience. She also serves as athletics mental health coordinator and health care administrator for the university’s Division I athletics program, helping athletes and coaches better understand how mental health physiologically influences peak performance. In addition to having a PhD in counseling and counselor education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, she holds an MS in psychology–cognitive neuroscience from the University of Oregon. Laura has professional experience conducting functional MRI (fMRI) research and has presented at numerous conferences on the intentional and informed integration of neuroscience into the counseling field and counselor training programs. She has coauthored publications and book chapters detailing the application of neuroscience and related physiology (e.g., endocrine, immune, and gastrointestinal functioning) to clinical mental health counseling and trauma and crisis intervention. Laura is a member of the American Counseling Association’s Neurocounseling Interest Network. Laura previously served as the inaugural chair of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision’s Neuroscience Interest Network and was a founding coeditor of the “Neurocounseling: Bridging Brain and Behavior” column in Counseling Today magazine.  Lori A. Russell-Chapin, PhD, NCC, CCMHC, LCPC, BCN, was a professor of counselor education at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Lori earned a PhD in counselor education from the University of Wyoming and a master’s in counselor education from Eastern Montana College. Currently, Lori teaches graduate counseling courses in Bradley University’s campus-based and online brain-based master’s programs. She codirects the Center for Collaborative Brain Research, a partnership among Bradley University, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, and the Illinois Neurological Institute. Board certified in neurofeedback, Lori has authored or coauthored 13 books on topics ranging from practicum internship and supervision to neurocounseling and neurofeedback. Lori is the chair of the ACA Neurocounseling Interest Network and has served as coeditor of the “Neurocounseling: Bridging Brain and Behavior” column in Counseling Today magazine. Lori maintains a small private practice. In addition to being an award-winning researcher and teacher at Bradley University, she is an American Counseling Association fellow and past recipient of the ACA Trailblazer Award for her work in neurocounseling.  Dr. Russell-Chapin passed away in 2024.