Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is an evidence-based field of psychology that focuses on what factors are necessary for individuals to live meaningfully, happily and with purpose -- what shifts someone from merely existing to thriving. This program is designed to give you a crash course in many of the important skills and findings of positive psychology, including:

• The importance of optimism
• The mental and physical benefits of gratitude
• How to be more compassionate with ourselves and others
• The relationship between our minds and our bodies

With targeted lessons, video summaries, and interactive activities, Resilify's Positive Psychology program can be a powerful tool on your journey of healing and growth.

Program Sessions

Session 1: Introduction to Positive Psychology

Overview: Learn about the burgeoning field of positive psychology and how it may benefit you.

Activities: Practice mindfulness and establish values.

Session 2: Optimism and Mindset

Overview: Learn about what optimism is (and isn't!), and how having a positive outlook on life can be instrumental in our happiness, even and especially when faced with adversity.

Activities: Practice looking forward toward the future with realistic positivity.

Session 3: The Mind-Body Relationship

Overview: Explore the science behind how our physical and emotional health interact and learn how to better support ourselves in all domains.

Activities: Practice engaging your senses to bring about soothing.

Session 4: Gratitude and Happiness

Overview: Learn about the importance of being thankful for what we have in life and how this practice can help us cope when we are feeling challenged.

Activities: Engage in concrete ways to practice gratitude.

Session 5: Compassion

Overview: Learn how to be kinder to ourselves and others through the lens of compassion-focused therapy (CFT).

Activities: Take the CFT skills you have learned and put them to the test!

Session 6: Resilience and Coping

Overview: To be resilient is to cope with life's challenges and be able to learn from them. Explore ways to build your resilience in this session.

Activities: Engage in resilience-building activities to help you cope.

Session 7: Mindfulness

Overview: Improve your awareness of your experiences without passing judgment on them.

Activities: Engage in a number of activities designed to guide you in practicing mindfulness.

References

• Web-Based Positive Psychology Interventions: A Reexamination of Effectiveness, Journal of Clinical Psychology — Rosalind J. Woodworth, Angela O'Brien-Malone, Mark R. Diamond, Benjamin Schuz.
• Technology use and preferences for mental health self-management interventions among older veterans — Gould, C., Loup, J., Kuhn, E., Beaudreau, S., Ma, F., Goldstein, M., Wetherell, J., Zapata, A. M., Choe, P., & Ohara, R. (2020). International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 35, 321-330. DOI: 10.1002/gps.5252
• Feeling Thanks and Saying Thanks: A Randomized Controlled Trial Examining If and How Socially Oriented Gratitude Journals Work, Journal of Clinical Psychology — Brenda H. O'Connell, Deirdre O'Shea, Stephen Gallagher.
• Using Gratitude to Promote Positive Change: A Series of Meta-Analyses Investigating the Effectiveness of Gratitude Interventions, Basic and Applied Social Psychology — Leah R. Dickens.
• A Placebo-Controlled Online Study on Potential Mediators of a Pleasure-Based Positive Psychology Intervention: The Role of Emotional and Cognitive Components, Journal of Happiness Studies — Fabian Gander, Rene T. Proyer, Willibald Ruch.
• What might affect acceptability of online positive psychology interventions for depression: a qualitative study on patient expectations, BMC Psychiatry — Sophie Walsh, Justina Kaselionyte, Stephanie J. C. Taylor, Stefan Priebe.
• Advances in PTSD treatment delivery: The role of digital technology in PTSD treatment. Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry — Kuhn, E. & Owen, J. E. (2020).
• Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense mental health apps: A systematic review of the available evidence — Gould, C. E., Kok, B. C., Ma, V. K., Zapata, A. M. L., Owen, J. E., & Kuhn, E. (2019). Psychological Services, 16(2), 196-207.