positive approach Flashcards
Describe the assumption ‘authenticity of goodness and excellence’
-The assumption states that feelings of happiness + goodness are as natural as feelings of anxiety + stress. According to Seligman (2002) the belief that traits such virtue + happiness are less authentic than negative traits + states have been an obstacle in psychological research.
-Seligman believes that we have inherent traits ‘signature strengths’ such as kindness, generosity and humour and we need to nurture these traits in order to transform our lives.
-Influential in therapies: role of the therapist is to facilitate positive well being and help achieve fulfilment > this can be achieved by focusing on traits that produce goodness and excellence in individuals and helping people understand these traits can be developed.
-Believes such understanding will act as a buffer against future mental health problems.
Mindfulness Therapy
Mindfulness is a technique you can learn which involves noticing what’s happening in the present moment, without judgement. You might take notice and be aware of your mind, body or surroundings.
Aims: become more self-aware
feel calmer and less stressed, feel more able to choose how to respond to your thoughts and feelings
cope with difficult or unhelpful thoughts be kinder towards yourself.
Mindfulness: Applying the Assumptions
Authenticity of goodness and excellence: Does not follow the disease model, rather focuses on promoting well being, Celebrate individual happiness and contentment, Promote flourishing , Develop our authentic natural strengths and virtues, Enhance characteristics eg optimism, Encourage acceptance to develop gratitude and flexibility.
Free Will : feelings - requires self-regulation of attention Change attitude towards thoughts and feelings - more positive
-We can choose to be aware of our thoughts and feelings and accept these.
-We can choose to change attitude towards thoughts and feelings - more positive
Mindfulness - Main Components
1) Gaining control of thoughts: Trains us to focus on our present thoughts, emotions and feelings rather than being caught in the past, Be aware of thoughts and feelings and accept them.
Gain awareness and control of unhelpful thoughts/negative thoughts. Recognise negative automatic thinking patterns and react differently (eg with anxiety/depression) .
2) Meditation and mindful breathing : Meditation training to help focus the mind . Guided instruction - sitting comfortably, paying attention to breathing, body sensations, thoughts etc. Techniques eg body scan, box breathing, trains of thought personal practice. Helps reprocess internal experiences and accept that thoughts are impermanent - they come and go + Help learn not to react in an automatic way.
3) Informal practices: Once learned, can be used anywhere and anytime in our daily lives . Taking time to focus on one thing at that time Eg paying attention to surroundings
If attention wanders, gently bring it back to the present (non-judgmental). Incorporated into daily life.
4) Used in combination with other therapies : Often incorporated into other therapies mindfulness-based CBT (MCBT) (Teasdale, Seagal, Williams, 2003) is a four-stage therapeutic approach combining both elements. Rather than trying to alter people’s unwanted/irrational thoughts (like traditional CBT), MCBT helps change the process of thinking not just the content . Used with anxiety, depression, bipolar, low mood. Application of MCBT research - MCBT for depression relapse prevention (recurrent depression). Application of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) based on the work of Kabat-Zinn, 1990. Developed for use in hospitals - painful, chronic, disabling or terminal conditions.
