What is Positive Psychology?

Positive psychology offers a valuable alternative or complementary approach to a diagnostic, problem-focused approach to health and well-being. Seeing the world through a “problem to be solved” lens can limit our field of vision as helpers and leaders, causing us to miss existing resources that we could build upon. As our world faces crises on multiple fronts, positive psychology can help clinicians, leaders, educators and communities focus on enhancing inherent resources and attributes that can not only bolster resilience, but lead to more effective, flexible, creative thinking that can guide us through those crises.

See also: Examples of Positive Psychology

A better term would be a psychologist with expertise in the field of positive psychology. All psychologists are “positive psychologists” in the sense they help people solve problems in living, restore wellness, and maximize life satisfaction. Psychologists may take different pathways in helping people reach those states, one of which is “fixing what's wrong” versus focusing more intently on existing resources such as personal strengths, gratitude, kindness, purpose and love. A psychologist with expertise in the field of positive psychology has skills in motivational interviewing, mindfulness and applying positive psychology interventions which utilize those existing resources. Of course, having a theoretical orientation rooted in positive psychology doesn't preclude a practitioner of positive psychology from being problem-focused in their approach.

A psychologist who finds a “home” in positive psychology is one who embraces the idea that practices like kindness, gratitude, personal strengths assessment, mindfulness, love, self-compassion, meaning and celebration of accomplishments are critical ingredients to a life worth living. People from all educational backgrounds and professional roles who feel aligned with “human flourishing” as an important concept to dedicate time, study, energy, money and other resources to, are most likely to have the greatest impact working within this perspective.

To pursue a career in the field of positive psychology, you must obtain training in the principles and practices of positive psychology. One way to do that is by completing a degree program such as PCOM's Master of Applied Positive Psychology.