Positive Psychotherapy, developed by Nossrat Peseschikian, is founded on the premise that man’s human nature is intrinsically good and that each person possesses four specific abilities: mental, social, spiritual, and physical. This form of psychotherapy is part of the humanistic, psychodynamic, and transcultural families. By using multi-cultural stories and metaphors, clients are encouraged to view their own illnesses or issues in a unique and more positive way. The client is incorporated into the story and plays an active role in his or her own healing process. Positive Psychotherapy empowers the client with the skills to achieve a sense of inner balance by relying on all of the resources he or she possesses through body, spirit, mind, and emotion. This interdisciplinary approach incorporates various forms of psychotherapy to aid the client in becoming his or her own therapist for his or her particular circumstances, experiences, and environment.

There are three main tenants of Positive Psychotherapy that according to this type of therapy must be addressed in order to achieve a positive outcome.

Principle of Hope

This principle suggests that rather than focusing on the eradication of a disruption, the client should first examine the disruption fully and decipher its positive or actual implications. The therapist works with the client in this capacity to help him or her gain an awareness of the disruption's true purpose and to help him or her see it in a new perspective. For instance, depressive feelings are very disruptive, but they are often a true expression of internal or external conflicts and one's reaction to them. Additionally, anorexia nervosa may represent an identification with the inner hunger of deep yearning or a larger hunger that is global, rather than the action of surviving on very little nourishment. By this process, a client can see the function behind each manifestation.

Principle of Balance

This principle implies that each person possesses his or her own set of coping mechanisms. If the coping mechanism is out of balance, illness and negative symptoms can arise. One must have complete harmony and evenness of application of all aspects of coping in order to maintain balance.

Principle of Consultation

This principle states that being informed about a situation or issue must encompass five distinct steps: observation, inventory, situational support, verbalization, and development of goals.

Website's Related to Positive Psychotherapy:

Positum.org

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Last updated: 05-14-2013