Flourishing
Our practice offers a unique specialization in Positive Psychology—the empirical study of well-being or, what Aristotle called “the good life.” Positive psychology is an arm of psychology too broad to encapsulate here; but, some of our major areas of interest include:
Character Strengths and Virtues, compromise a body of assessments—headlined by Virtues in Action (VIA) and Gallup’s CliftonStrengths—seeking to inventory the range of unique strengths human beings possess and map them to individuals. Understanding our ‘signature strengths’ and harnessing them to face life’s challenges is a powerful alternative to merely fixing deficits, while positioning us to flourish in life.
Meaning and purpose is at the heart of spirituality, philosophy, community and psychology. Meanwhile, we find ourselves at time where many are experiencing a deficit of meaning; particularly as they seek alternatives to organized religion. Understanding the role of meaning in our lives—our “connection to something larger than the self”—is more elusive than ever yet just as important. A pillar of our psychological wellness is discerning where we derive meaning and how to cultivate it.
“Flow” is a term coined by researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (recommended book) to describe the experience of full, immersive engagement in an experience. Flow constitutes those moments when we are completely ‘in the zone,’ lose track of time, and derive deep satisfaction in our endeavors. Finding that rare ‘sweet spot’ between anxiety and boredom—understanding the activities and experiences that bring us a sense of “flow”—is integral to cultivating fulfillment in both our professional and personal lives.
Positive emotions have long been neglected in psychology, a field historically dominated by the study of pathology and emotional distress. Yet, cutting-edge research over the past several decades has shown that cultivating positive emotions is key to both promoting life satisfaction and buffering us from physical and mental illness. Positivity (recommend book) no longer resides in the domain of pseudoscientific “self-help,” and is instead a bedrock of the science of well-being. Interventions such as cultivating gratitude, savoring, forgiveness, empathy, and giving, all help us grow this capacity.
Contact us to learn more about the principles of positive psychology, how they relate to therapy, and the unique ways in which they might contribute to your ‘life well-lived.’