This is a stand-alone course that can be taken by any practitioner as part of their continuous professional development (CPD).
It is also one of the modules within:
During this course you will discover an evidence-based approach to positive therapy – invaluable in a range of therapeutic, social care and educational environments across the age span.
Can be taken as an individual one-day course or as part of the Certificate in Resource Based Therapies (3 modules/5 days training) approved by the BPS.
This course covers all essential components of effective use of a positive psychology approach in helping clients. In brief, it will explore:
- The history and evidence base of positive psychology and its practical application.
- The limitations of pathology-based therapies.
- The ways to enhance “client wellbeing” through “Teaching Happiness” with a wide range of client groups from children to offenders.
- Identifying and enhancing client strengths. “Signature Strengths” and how they might be identified and used in working with clients. The relationship between strengths and problematic behaviour. Techniques for developing key strengths in order to overcome obstacles and setbacks.
- Environmental interventions and their impact on pro-social behaviour and positive mood. Practical implications and uses.
- The development of resilience and gratitude: their impact on motivation and mood
- The relationship between altruistic behaviour and psychological wellbeing.
During this course you will learn:
- How to become optimistic and resource-led with your clients even if you were trained to be needs-led or pathology-focused.
- How to overcome client resistance to change by bypassing deficits
- How to incorporate positive therapy into your existing practice to make it more effective
Outline:
- Introduction
- The history and evidence base of positive psychology and its practical application. Similarities and differences between positive therapy (PT) and other resource-based therapies (RBT), i.e. SFBT & MI as well as other therapeutic techniques (CBT, Rogerian approaches etc). The limitations of pathology-based therapies.
- Enhancing “client wellbeing”
- “Teaching happiness” and its use with a range of client groups from children to offenders. The relationship between wellbeing and the reduction in “problematic behaviour”
- Identifying and enhancing client strengths
- “Signature Strengths” and how they might be identified and used in working with clients. The relationship with strengths and problematic behaviour. Video and Exercise
- Non-verbal interventions
- Environmental interventions and their impact on pro-social behaviour and positive mood. Practical implications and uses. Exercise
- The development of resilience
- Techniques for developing key strengths in order to overcome obstacles and setbacks.
- Developing client gratitude – even in those who have experienced extreme trauma
