Goal focused positive psychotherapy: an integration of positive psychology and psychotherapy

ABSTRACT

This article introduces the empirical support for and theoretical tenets of Goal Focused Positive Psychotherapy (GFPP), a comprehensive, evidence-based, psychotherapy model. GFPP’s approach emerges from positive and social psychology research, and is informed by psychotherapy research from the common and contextual models. Its interventions focus on idiosyncratic and multiculturally-attuned client factors, particularly client strengths and goals, in an effort to increase subjective well-being and facilitate the client’s experience of a meaningful, satisfying life. Enhanced client well-being provides more robust and abundant resources for proactively addressing presenting concerns without requiring intensive focus on client deficits, symptoms, or trauma. The mechanism of change is positive emotion, as informed by the broaden-and-build [Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218–226. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.218] biopsychosocial model. The therapeutic alliance creates a healing context cultivated through a focus on hope, strengths, and client-centred experiences of self-determination.

KEYWORDS:

• Strength-based
• broaden-and-build
• subjective well-being
• positive psychotherapy
• client factors
• multicultural

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Evelyn I. Winter Plumb is a doctoral candidate in the department of Counselling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. Her research interests include process research on multicultural positive psychotherapy approaches as applied to vulnerable populations. Prior publications include work in cognitive neuroscience, positive family therapy, and substance use disorder assessment instrumentation. Her clinical emphases include pediatric trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Substance Use Disorders.

Kathryn J. Hawley is a doctoral candidate in the department of Counselling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. Her research examines the application of positive psychology interventions in the development of cross-cultural therapeutic relationships. Her previous publications have focused on positive family therapy and case analysis. Her clinical interests include emerging adulthood, interpersonal relationships, depression, and anxiety.

Margaret P. Boyer is an advanced doctoral student in the department of Counselling, Clinical, and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. Her current research and clinical interests include the integration of positive psychology in psychotherapy, interpersonal processes in emotion regulation, and the therapeutic role of psychological assessment.

Michael J. Scheel, PhD, ABPP, is a professor chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA. His research interests include the application of positive psychology in psychotherapy; promotion of hope in psychotherapy; couple and family therapy; high school dropout prevention; and contextualised therapy approaches.

Collie W. Conoley, PhD, is Director of the Carol Ackerman Positive Psychology Centre at University of California, Santa Barbara and a professor in Department of Counselling, Clinical and School Psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. His research interests include positive psychology, process and outcome research, multicultural psychology and family psychology.

ORCID

Collie W. Conoley http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1793-8719