Practicing

Positive

Counseling:

Moving from

What's Wrong

to What's

Strong Garrett J. McAuliffe

Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Davide Mariotti

Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Introductions

US

YOU: Name, role,

location, background/

interest in PC

What Can Be Done in a 50-

minute Conference Session?

Intrigue.

Plant seeds.

Inspire!

Share ideas.

Raise questions.

Defining Positive Counseling

“Green,” not “blue.”

Aims at developing

sustained well-being that is

consistent with a client’s

long-term goals by

strengthening already-

existing positive features.

ALL OR NOTHING?

No - An emphasis.

More accurately, “balanced”

counseling!

Proactively adding positive

dimensions into the conversation

through questions, reflections,

reframing…

…while not ignoring negative

feelings, thoughts, situations.

Why positive dimensions must be

actively introduced:

Human default toward the

negative (e.g., job evaluation,

report card).

“It may be evolutionarily adaptive to

recognize potential threats more

readily than potential rewards.”

- Gable & Haidt, 2005

Why this emphasis? 1. How the brain works:

Amygdala: repository of negative

feelings, sends messages, alert occurs.

Prefrontal cortex: making judgments and

evaluations about events and stimuli.

Active during positive experiences.

But - evolutionarily more recent. Often

bypassed by negatives. Literally

further away from the amygdala.

2. Familiarity: The positive is more common in

everyday life, so the negative violates our

expectations.

Characteristics of the Positive

Is more enduring in the long run in reinforcing

well-being (Gable & Haidt, 2005) (vs. countering

negative cognitions, analyzing problems).

The consequence of positive emotion: “Broaden

and Build:”

Positive emotions expand our perspectives.

(e.g., “I could try to meet new people by

_____, or _____, or ______ .”)

vs. escaping, avoidance, violence

Positive emotions “override” negative ones.

Can’t have both at the same time. (e.g., the

traditional Irish wake?)

Three Primary Factors in

Sustainable Subjective Well-Being

INTENTIONAL ACTIVITY

Counseling!

Positive Counseling Methods Two parts:

1. Assessing the Positive:

E.g.,

Strengths/Personality characteristics

Cultural assets

2. Enhancing the Positive (intentional

interventions)

They of course are not completely separate,

as one leads to the other.

Your questions,

comments, and/or

additions so far?

Consider this case…

Some Theories that Promote

Active Positive Interventions

Solution-Focused Counseling

Acceptance and

Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Narrative Therapy

Positive Psychotherapy

Examples of Positive Counseling

Methods

1. Probing for strengths

2. Doing positive reframing

3. Seeking exceptions

4. Teaching mindfulness and eliciting

goals/values/commitments

5. Applying narrative therapy approaches

6. Eliciting gratitude

7. Generating hope and optimism

1. EVOKING STRENGTHS “Tell me (write) a story of overcoming an

obstacle in your life. What did you have to

do to overcome that obstacle? What

qualities (strengths) in you allowed you to

do so?” Have client write a page, share it with a significant

other, ask the other to comment on when she or he

observed the client do so. In the subsequent session,

probe how the client was an agent (“What enabled

you to… ?”)

“What strengths do you get from your

[family, ethnic group, religion]?”

2. POSITIVE REFRAMING

= Noting the positive dimensions of a

situation that is only being seen as

negative. (not changing the situation

itself)

Examples:

[To a client who reports that he is negative and

judgmental with work colleagues] “Let’s look at

another side of this. You criticize your co-workers.

On the other hand, you also have strong standards

for effective work.”

“Your friend calls you a hermit. But it also seems

that you are self-contained and able to enjoy your

own company.”

3. Seeking Exceptions • “My husband and I are arguing about our eleven year-old

daughter. He is too protective. He thinks it’s not safe for her

to walk home by herself from the school bus. He told me

I’m being careless about this.”

• Reflection, reframe, and search for exception:

[REFLECTION OF NEGATIVE PERCEPTION] “You are

annoyed with your spouse for being too protective

with your teenage daughter…

[POSITIVE REFRAME]… But I also hear that both of you are interested in her welfare, in different ways….

[POSITIVE EXCEPTION PROBE]. Tell me about a time

when you and your husband were able to come to agreement on an issue about how to raise your

children. What did you do then that worked?”

4. Teaching Mindfulness and Evoking

Commitments (values, goals)

From Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

A: Promotes radical acceptance of distressing

thoughts and feelings through mindfulness.

Use metaphors (e.g., thrashing in quicksand)

Teach mindfulness practices (and practice

them!)

C: Help clients name and aim at ultimate goals (e.g., to be close to others, to travel, to feel calm)

E.g., (To a client who is avoiding anxiety by

isolating herself): “What is your valued goal in the long run?” (e.g., having a social life, peace

of mind)

5. Using Probes from Narrative

Therapy

Restorying:

Ask: “What is your better judgment?”

Seek “unique outcome:” “When is a

time that you had more control over

this issue?”

Extend to the future: "How do you

see this working out for you during

the next six months?“

6. GRATITUDE INTERVENTIONS = having clients appreciate what they have

that is valuable and meaningful.

Examples. Direct clients to:

“Each night, think of (write) three good things

that happened during the day.” (Elaborate in

detail in writing, including possible personal

contributions to what went well.) Or “Three

Blessings” in your life.

“How do you differ in positive ways from how

you were in the past (e.g., in some domain

such as assertiveness, actions despite fears,

kindness, decision-making approach)?”

7. ENCOURAGING HOPE AND

OPTIMISM Finding past positives:

“You are angry with your partner. What is it like when you are getting along better? How have you managed to get to a better place in the past?”

More generally: (To a client who is feeling pessimistic or hopeless) “Recall and write briefly about times/ situations when you felt more functional or successful or simply better (either in general or in a specific context, such as a relationship or work). You might forget these during a difficult time. What advice might you offer yourself?”

Inquiring about partial successes: “You didn’t ‘lose it’ at first when your son came home late, even though you did a few hours later. What did you do at first? How did you get yourself to not go ballistic?” (look for agency)

Some References Gable, S., & Haidt, J. (2005). Positive psychology.

Review of General Psychology, 9, 1089-2680

Hayes, S. C.; Luoma, J. B.; Bond, F. W.; Masuda, Akihiko; and Lillis, J. (2006). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Model, processes and outcomes. Psychology Faculty Publications. Paper 101. http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/psych_facpub/101.

Lyubomirsky, S; Sheldon, K., & Schkade, D. (2005). Pursuing happiness: The architecture of sustainable change. Review of General Psychology, 9, 111-131.

Magyar-Moe, J. L. (2009). Therapist's Guide to Positive Psychological Interventions. Academic Press.

McAuliffe, G. J. (2016). Positive Counseling. Sage.

O'Hanlon, B. & Bertolino, B. (2011). The Therapist's Notebook on Positive Psychology. Routledge.

end

Illustration

Incorporating: Cultural strengths

Developmental tasks

Greater self-authorization

Appreciation of styles and strengths

Example. 25 year-old lesbian working class woman who is feeling hopeless of fitting into a heterosexual middle class world : “What strengths do you get from being a [gay/working class/ woman]?”

(connected to a community, practical, assertive, taking charge)

“What might you do to explore your dream of [becoming a surgeon/owning a restaurant/being a journalist?”

“How did you come to know that it was not ok to live with your boyfriend? What is another side of that? What is your better judgment?”

“You have these strengths/intelligences: verbal, interpersonal, assertiveness, extroversion, intellectual curiosity, enterprising, ____ (take from exercises or inventories).”

….

“Tell me about a time when you

overcame an obstacle.”

“Who do you know who might be similar

to you in some ways who is doing what

you would like to be doing?”

Presentation Title: Practicing Positive Counseling: Moving from What's Wrong to

What's Strong

Presentation Information:

Positive counselling has emerged as a most promising trend in the field. This session will provide participants with key methods in positive counselling in the form of (1) a model for positive client assessment and (2) a sample of specific interventions.

Positive counselling is not an exclusive method, although some theories of counselling are particularly focused on strengths and exceptions to problems.

Counsellors will need to understand the techniques that might be used to implement positive interventions that help instigate client progress and hope.

Assessing the Positive:

CONTEXT, PHASE, STAGE, STYLE

Cultural Context:

Life Phase:

Cognitive Stage:

Personality Style:

Assessing cultural strengths:

Through:

Simply asking: “What strengths do you get from

being a member of your [ethnic, religious, sexual

orientation, social class, ability, age, racial]

group?

Guided imagery exercise on positive symbols

from your group.

Engaging in Life Phase Tasks

What is your client doing about (addressing both self- and societal expectations) (industry vs. inferiority) [e.g., To a ten year-old:] “You are good

at music, but not too interested in sports. Let’s look at ways you can do more with music at this time.”

(identity vs. role confusion)

(intimacy vs. isolation)

(generativity vs. self-absorption)

(integrity vs. despair)

(career exploration) [e.g., To a 22 year-old: “It seems to be a good time to do explore your interests. What can you actively do to discover your assets and how to use them?”)

(career deceleration)

(midlife re-examination)

Life phase notions cue to counselor to introduce clients to positive actions on developmental tasks.

Cognitive Stage: Expanding Ways

of Knowing Client dilemma: Dilemma-> Old way of knowing isn’t working

(e.g., gender role – “I must defer to my boyfriend.”

religious dictum – “Sexuality is a sign of our fallenness/sinfulness.”)

Assess: “How did you come to know that _____ was good or important or

right?”

“What’s another way of thinking about that?”

“What is your evidence for thinking this way?”

“What does your better judgment tell you?”

- Significant adult shift possible: - From:

- conformity/social convention as ultimate to - self-authorization.

- Active counselor interventions: - Put client into contact with peers who show self-authorization (e.g.,

support group for LGBT youth; alternate religious perspectives; models of people of one’s ethnic group who achieve in nontraditional ways)

Personality Style (“tropisms”)

As in:

Multiple intelligences

Career personality types

Other personality characteristics

Strengths

Again, assess and enhance.

“You seem to be [more introverted, strong in

visual/spatial intelligence, artistic, etc.].” [Is that ok

with you? What can you do to appreciate those

qualities and to enact them boldly in your life?]

Examples of Key Questions/Interventions for

Positive Counseling Assessment

Part 1.

Context: What strengths do you get from your ______ ?

Phase: “How can you explore/engage in ____ (e.g., “industry” tasks, intimacy tasks, career exploration tasks, deceleration tasks)?”

Stage: “How did you come to know that ____ was a way to [be/think/feel?” “What’s another perspective?” “What’s the opposite of that one?” “What is your better judgment?” Let’s find someone who is like you but who is [thinking for herself/achieving greater self-authorization of life roles, values choices].”

Examples of Key Questions/Interventions for

Positive Counseling Assessment

Part 2.

Style: “What do you do well?” “What are your

ultimate goals/values in this situation?” “What are your automatic inclinations [interests, abilities, intelligences, personality characteristics]?” Let’s look at your self-assessment of your [personality types/career-related interests/achievements/obstacle(s) you overcame]. What do these tell you? How might you express them?”

Acceptance and

Commitment Therapy

….

Objective of PC

Sustained subjective well-

being.

“Sustained” – requires effort/

activity over periods of time

(writing, talking, repeating)

Two less-fruitful avenues for

sustainable increase in well-being

Genetic set point (50% influence): A

temperament-based tendency toward

negative or positive affectivity.

Not amenable to intervention (but upper to

lower levels in a range can vary).

Circumstances (8-15%): Incidental and/or

stable conditions.

e.g., health, finances, geographical location,

relationship status, religiosity (but these can

be short-term, as we adapt to positive new

circumstances)

A Most Fruitful Route to Increasing

Sustainable Well-Being:

Intentional Activity Counseling!

(But) such activity (e.g., positive counseling

interventions) must be intensive, active,

effortful, varied, long-term.