Therapist's Guide to Positive Psychological Interventions (Practical Resources for the Mental Health Professional)

Positive psychology - essentially the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive - is a relatively new discipline that has experienced substantial growth in the last 5-10 years. Research suggests that the principles and theories from this area of study are highly relevant to the practice of counseling and psychotherapy, and positive psychology presents clinicians and patients with a much needed balance to the more traditional focus on pathology and the disease model of mental health. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the best-researched positive psychological interventions. It emphasizes clinical application, providing a detailed view of how the research can be applied to patients. Covering the broaden-and-build theory, strengths-based therapy, mentoring modalities and more, the volume will provide numerous assessment tools, exercises and worksheets for use throughout the counseling and psychotherapy process. - Summarizes the applications of research from positive psychology to the practice of counseling and psychotherapy- Provides clinician a variety of assessments, worksheets, handouts, and take home and in-session exercises to utilize in the process of conducting therapy from a positive psychological perspective- Provides general treatment planning guidelines for the appropriate use of such assessments, worksheets, handouts, and exercises- Bibliography of positive psychology references to compliment the information provided in this book Contents......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 Acknowledgements......Page 14 The History of Positive Psychology......Page 15 Strengths Theory......Page 16 The Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions......Page 18 The Broaden Hypothesis......Page 19 The Build Hypothesis......Page 22 The Undoing Hypothesis......Page 24 The Resilience Hypothesis......Page 25 A Note on What Positive Psychology is Not......Page 26 Applications of Positive Psychology......Page 27 The Four-Front A approach......Page 29 Problems with the Current DSM Assessment System......Page 30 Biases in Human Thinking......Page 36 Lack of Information on the Strengths Perspective in Formal Training......Page 37 The Complete State Model of Mental Health......Page 38 Psychometric Properties of the Outcome Questionnaire-45.2......Page 48 Psychometric Properties of the Mental Health Continuum – Long Form......Page 49 The Process of Positive Psychological Assessment......Page 50 Culturally Encompassing Data Gathering......Page 51 The Addressing Model of Cultural Assessment......Page 52 The Community Genogram......Page 54 Selection and Interpretation of Culturally Appropriate Tests and Measures......Page 56 Values in Action Inventory of Character Strengths......Page 57 Cultural Considerations of the VIA-IS......Page 60 Clifton Strengthsfinder......Page 61 Positive and Negative Affect Schedule......Page 65 Satisfaction with Life Scale......Page 67 Fordyce Emotions Questionnaire......Page 69 Steen Happiness Index/Authentic Happiness Inventory......Page 71 Hope Scale......Page 72 Psychometric Properties of the Domain Specific Hope Scale......Page 79 Personal Growth Initiative Scale......Page 80 Psychometric Properties of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale......Page 81 The Power of Labels and Naming......Page 82 Deindividuation......Page 83 Self-Fulfilling Prophecy......Page 84 Positive Effects of Labeling......Page 85 Self-Fulfilling Prophecy......Page 86 Strengths-Based Counseling......Page 87 Strength-Centered Therapy......Page 90 The Pleasant Life......Page 93 The Full Life......Page 94 The Fourteen Sessions of “Idealized” Positive Psychotherapy......Page 95 Psychometric Properties of the Positive Psychotherapy Inventory......Page 98 Quality of Life Therapy......Page 147 Well-Being Therapy......Page 150 Hope Therapy......Page 153 Hope Finding......Page 155 Hope Enhancing......Page 158 Hope Reminding......Page 162 Attending to Culture in Hope Therapy......Page 164 Emotional Storytelling......Page 165 Finding Benefits in Adversity......Page 167 Letting Go of Grudges......Page 168 Couples or Family Gratitude Journals......Page 172 Gratitude Jars......Page 174 Flow Exercises......Page 175 Gainful Employment Exercises......Page 180 Engagement and Involvement at Work......Page 183 Finding Purpose in Life via Providing a Product or Service......Page 187 A Note on Using Positive Psychological Interventions and Exercises......Page 190 General Guidelines for Developing Positive Psychological Treatment Plans......Page 191 Complete Mental Health or Flourishing......Page 192 Tracelyn’s Treatment Plan and Results......Page 193 The Case of Thor......Page 197 Incomplete Mental Illness or Struggling......Page 198 Jim’s Treatment Plan and Results......Page 202 The Case of Karen......Page 206 Challenges Associated with Implementing Positive Psychological Interventions......Page 207 Colleague Challenges......Page 211 Therapist Challenges......Page 212 Criticisms of Positive Psychology as Noted in the Literature......Page 213 Conclusion......Page 214 References......Page 215 Positive Psychology Websites......Page 223 Positive psychology - essentially the scientific study of the strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive - is a relatively new discipline that has experienced substantial growth in the last 5-10 years. Research suggests that the principles and theories from this area of study are highly relevant to the practice of counseling and psychotherapy, and positive psychology presents clinicians and patients with a much needed balance to the more traditional focus on pathology and the disease model of mental health. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the best-researched positive psychological interventions. It emphasizes clinical application, providing a detailed view of how the research can be applied to patients. Covering the broaden-and-build theory, strengths-based therapy, mentoring modalities and more, the volume will provide numerous assessment tools, exercises and worksheets for use throughout the counseling and psychotherapy process.

- Summarizes the applications of research from positive psychology to the practice of counseling and psychotherapy
- Provides clinician a variety of assessments, worksheets, handouts, and take home and in-session exercises to utilize in the process of conducting therapy from a positive psychological perspective
- Provides general treatment planning guidelines for the appropriate use of such assessments, worksheets, handouts, and exercises
- Bibliography of positive psychology references to compliment the information provided in this book