The theoretical underpinning of Adlerian Psychology and Neurofeedback: A model for integration

Through a literature review of Adlerian Psychology, Neurofeedback, and depression, a unified theory was merged to treat depression. Adlerian Psychology conceptualizes the individual from a bio-psycho-social framework, and is a holistic psychology, yet its lacks interventions that affect the biology of the individual directly. Neurofeedback is a reductionistic theory based on behaviorism. It ignores psychological and social factors (Larsen, 2012) as it emphasizes symptom reduction of the individual through the use of "brainwave training." Combining the two theories would provide clinicians with the ability to conceptualize and provide interventions from a biopsychosocial perspective. Both have behavioral components, believe in soft determinism, and demonstrate the power of choice, however there are several differences between the theories that need to be reconciled in order for both theories to be merged (Demos 2005; Larsen, 2012; Sweeney, 1998). Empiricism vs. phenomenology, nomathetic vs. idiographic view of the individual, holism vs. reductionism, mentalism vs. behaviorism, objectivism vs. constructionism, and the medical model vs. the educational model will be addressed in order to unify the two theories.