1. Applying Positive Psychology to Treating Depression and Anxiety
Identifying and Working with Strengths

2. Happiness “Pleasure usually comes when called, but not happiness.”
Mason Cooley
Happiness is a by product, trying to grasp at water
Tao metaphor of a stream

3. Eudaimonia Aristotle – eudaimonia (being true to one’s inner self)
We are who we are…
True happiness comes from identifying one’s virtues and cultivating them and living in accordance with them.
We are who we are with our strengths – not good and math? Maybe we shouldn’t be an accountant
Socrates quote

4. Studying What Is Right With People
Often get the message that we should be “well-rounded”
Buckingham and Coffman (Gallup Research) – tens of thousands of interviews
People don’t change much
Don’t waste time trying to put in what was left out (deficits)
Don’t focus on the weaknesses, work with the strengths
Focusing on strengths helps us deal with deficits
Clinical implications.
Gallup research-based
Message that we should be a well-rounded person. BUT if you don’t achieve success by being that way, but by capitalizing on our strengths
Clinically, identifying strengths is important because the client will be able to work on problems through their strength

5. The Path of Most Resistance
Less “you can be anything you want to be, if you just try hard enough”
More “you cannot be anything you want to be – but you can be a lot more of who you already are.”
Usually raised with this message – give an example
You can be more of who you already are though!

6. Positive Deviance
Looking for the (at times small instances of) success and building upon these
Success comes from using strengths, not improving deficits
Milton Erikson and the flower lady
E.g. driver’s ed and yoga…
Milton Erikson – noticed flower lady, depression improved
Focusing on the bright spots – started with what was working
Not ignoring problems, but asking about what is working
Where focus goes, energy flows – Dr. Wade driver’s ed example – focus on where we do want to go

7. Searching for Strengths
Bill…
When ask directly, usually is difficult.
Ask indirectly:
How would your friends describe you?
What does your partner or good friend say when he/she brags about you?
What skills were you surprised to discover you had at your work?
We need to ask someone about their strengths through back-door ways – difficult to come up with them if asked directly
Bill – I’m the most humble person I know

8. Using your strengths Gallup research
Over 1 million people were surveyed and only 1/3 agreed with the statement, “At work, I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day”
People who focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs and three times more likely to report having an excellent quality of life in general
Strengths Finder exercises/worksheets

9. Strengths Theory Gallup’s Strengths Theory
Talent x Investment = Strength
Talent – a natural way of thinking, feeling, behaving
Investment – time spent of developing your skill
Strength – Consistently provide superior performance
10,000 hours theory

10. Flow Czikszentmihalyi (1997, 1999) Flow: happiness in super focus
Characteristics of a flow experience
Examples?
Where is the focus?
Where do we most often experience flow?
Postal workers?
Possibly add video

11. Clues to Your Strengths
Flow
Satisfaction
Desire to learn more
Excellence

12. Peter Drucker
“The task of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths, making our weaknesses irrelevant.”

13. Strengths Role models? For clients, for you? William James
Your strengths
How are you using them?
How can you incorporate them more into your everyday life?
Exercise.
Using role models as one way of focusing on strengths
William James – depressed client, had him find a person who we wanted to feel like – take on their habits

14. Importance of Awareness
Of your weaknesses
Of your blind spots
Of potential problems using your strengths may cause.
Sense of balance

15. Addressing Weaknesses
Report card…
Use your strengths to address weaknesses
Remember how you have worked with or overcome problem areas in the past.
Exercise.
How did you earn the A’s? How can you use what you do in other classes to raise your lowest grade?

16. Questions
What is one thing you can start doing today to help with the situation?
What is the smallest change you can make that will likely make a difference?
Reframe questions to the positive, think of more questions.
Pivoting
Ask about what you want, not about what you don’t want.

17. Planned Happenstance Intentionally priming the pump for good luck.
Associated with curiosity, persistence, flexibility, optimism and risk-taking.
Engagement
Networking
If we engage in certain activities, we can actually increase our “luck”
Sometimes just asking can get you a long way
Same concept with networking
People most likely to find the job for you are not the people you know the bet, but more often acquaintances, etc.
80% of jobs are never advertised

18. Planned Happenstance
Think of an instance of good luck (large or small) in the recent past. What contributed to the good luck?
How have unplanned events influenced your choice of job or career?
How did you enable these events to positively influence you? (What did you do to place yourself in the right place at the right time? To make a good impression on people you met?)