Basing clinical practice on unified psychological science: Comment on Melchert (2016)

The article by Melchert (2016) called for professional psychology to leave its preparadigmatic past behind and move forward based upon a single unified theoretical orientation. Although leaving the preparadigmatic past behind is important, the claim that psychology has recently transitioned to a unified paradigmatic science based on a unified theoretical orientation seems premature at this time. However, the prospect of progress toward a unified psychological science is fostered by a large and growing literature not cited in the Melchert article. This literature provides a general solution to the mind-body problem in a way that better integrates psychology and neuroscience. This literature also provides mechanism information that explains how and why empirically supported treatments work thereby creating the firm science base for professional practice that the Melchert article seeks. (PsycINFO Database Record