A Proposal for Researching Possible Relationships Between Scientific Theories and the Personal Theories of Counselors and Clients

Current views from the philosophy of science encourage speculation about the relationship between the personal commitments of scientists and scientific theories. Increasing numbers of psychologists also have speculated about relationships between the development of personal and scientific theories. The author describes several assumptions that link scientific and personal theorizing. A research program is outlined that might refine and test such assumptions in the context of counseling. The overall goal of the article is to argue that research into the scientific and personal theories of researchers of counseling and the personal theories of counselors and clients may answer long-standing questions about the relationship between scientific and practical knowledge in counseling. Scientists are people. (Source unknown)