Table Of ContentTherapist’s Guide to Positive
Psychological Interventions
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Therapist’s Guide to
Positive Psychological
Interventions
Jeana L. Magyar-Moe, Ph.D.
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON
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First edition 2009
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Visit the Therapist’s Guide to Positive Psychological Interventions website at:
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TheTherapist’s Guide to Positive Psychological Interventions website con-
tains printable versions of the many forms, handouts, measures, and worksheets
included throughout the text for direct use with clients.
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Contents
Foreword by Shane J. Lopez ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xiii
1 . What is Positive Psychology and Why is it Important? 1
1.1 The History of Positive Psychology 1
1.2 Core Positive Psychology Theories and Concepts 2
1.3 A Note on What Positive Psychology is Not 12
1.4 Applications of Positive Psychology 13
2 . The Intersection of Positive Psychology and the
Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 15
2.1 C lient Conceptualizations and Outcome Expectations 15
2.2 P roblems with the Current DSM Assessment System 16
2.3 Biases in Human Thinking 22
2.4 L ack of Information on the Strengths Perspective in
Formal Training 23
2.5 The Complete State Model of Mental Health 24
2.6 P sychometric Properties of the Outcome
Questionnaire-45.2 34
2.7 P sychometric Properties of the Mental Health
Continuum – Long Form 35
2.8 The Process of Positive Psychological Assessment 36
2.9 C ulturally Sensitive Positive Psychological Assessment 37
2.10 Culturally Encompassing Data Gathering 37
2.11 The ADDRESSING Model of Cultural Assessment 38
2.12 The Community Genogram 40
2.13 S election and Interpretation of Culturally Appropriate
Tests and Measures 42
3 . Positive Psychological Tests and Measures 43
3.1 Values in Action Inventory of Character Strengths 43
3.2 Clifton StrengthsFinder 47
3.3 Positive and Negative Affect Schedule 51
3.4 Satisfaction with Life Scale 53
3.5 Fordyce Emotions Questionnaire 55
3.6 Steen Happiness Index/Authentic Happiness Inventory 57
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3.7 Hope Scale 58
3.8 Personal Growth Initiative Scale 66
3.9 Where to Find Other Positive Psychology Measures 68
3.10 Providing Assessment Feedback 68
3.11 The Power of Labels and Naming 68
3.12 Positive Effects of Labeling 71
4 . Positive Psychological Interventions 73
4.1 Positive Psychological Models of Therapy 73
4.2 Positive Psychology Exercises 151
4.3 A Note on Using Positive Psychological Interventions
and Exercises 176
5 . Deciding Upon and Carrying Out a Positive-
Psychology-Infused Treatment Plan 177
5.1 G eneral Guidelines for Developing Positive
Psychological Treatment Plans 177
5.2 Complete Mental Health or Flourishing 178
5.3 Incomplete Mental Health or Languishing 183
5.4 Incomplete Mental Illness or Struggling 184
5.5 Complete Mental Illness or Floundering 192
5.6 C hallenges Associated with Implementing
Positive Psychological Interventions 193
5.7 C riticisms of Positive Psychology as Noted in
the Literature 199
5.8 Conclusion 200
References 201
Bibliography of Useful Positive Psychology Resources 209
Index 211
Foreword
I became a positive psychologist in April 1998. With my coursework behind me,
I was wrapping up my last few months of clinical training at the Eisenhower VA
Medical Center. The staff psychiatrist popped into my office. He had a case for
the soon-to-be psychologist. Dr McNutt (real name… you couldn’t make that
up) threw me several softballs during my time in the clinic. The case of John
Marcus (pseudonym to protect client confidentiality) was not what I expected.
John was a full-bodied 63-year old veteran who had spent his life in the
farm fields of Kansas. He was a pragmatist, from his work boots to his flat-top
to his no-nonsense approach to life. In shock from a diagnosis of kidney failure
he had only one fix – suicide. See, John had never heard of a farmer running a
farm while on dialysis, so that treatment option did not make sense. Not getting
treated would leave him too sick to work the fields. Get treatment, lose the farm.
Don’t get treatment, lose the farm. Lose the farm, lose all sense of meaning.
Paul wanted to avoid losing the farm, by any means necessary.
Though few of my clinical techniques worked with Paul that first day, he
did get to the point where he was no longer a danger to himself. With the help
of his family and friends, we made sure that John had a safe home to return to
and plenty of support.
The next day, he came back to the clinic and started with a question,
“What’s my story?” After fumbling a bit, I was able to grasp the full meaning
of what he was asking. John wanted to know how to talk about being ill, going
to treatment, and getting better or getting worse. He hated the question, “How
are you doing?” and wanted to have a go-to answer. We spent the next two
hours talking about hope as an active process that requires constant attention.
At the beginning of the next session, he told me, “I got it. ‘I am working on it.’
When people ask me how I am doing, I tell them, ‘I am working on it.’”
That spring I learned that we all need a hopeful story about the future. Over
the last 11 years, I have come to realize that story can be crafted by know-
ing our strengths, managing our weaknesses, and practicing love, gratitude, and
kindness.
In Therapist’s Guide to Positive Psychological Interventions, Jeana L.
Magyar-Moe does a masterful job of creating multiple paths to a hopeful story
with our clients. She reframes progress and mental health and gives us the tools
we need to spark and sustain change.
I wish John and I had this book in 1998. I am glad you have it now.
Shane J. Lopez
Omaha, Nebraska
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