Niemiec Character Strengths Interventions

A Field Guide for Practitioners
2018
ISBN: 978-1-61334-492-7
Verlag: Hogrefe Publishing
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 300 Seiten

The definitive, practical handbook on positive psychology and character strengths for practitioners working in coaching, psychology, education, and business – start using strengths today!
This book is the epitome of positive psychology: it takes the “backbone” of positive psychology – character strengths – and builds a substantive bridge between the science and practice. Working with client’s (and our own) character strengths boosts well-being, fosters resilience, improves relationships, and creates strong, supportive cultures in our practices, classrooms, and organizations. This unique guide brings together the vast experience of the author with the science and the practice of positive psychology in such a way that both new and experienced practitioners will benefit. New practitioners will learn about the core concepts of character and signature strengths and how to fine-tune their approach and troubleshoot. Experienced practitioners will deepen their knowledge about advanced topics such as strengths overuse and collisions, hot button issues, morality, and integrating strengths with savoring, flow, and mindfulness. Hands-on practitioner tips throughout the book provide valuable hints on how to take a truly strengths-based approach.
The 24 summary sheets spotlighting each of the universal character strengths are an indispensable resource for client sessions, succinctly summarizing the core features of and research on each strength. 70 evidence-based step-by-step activity handouts can be given to clients to help them develop character strengths awareness and use, increase resilience, set and meet goals, develop positive relationships, and find meaning and engagement in their daily lives.
No matter what kind of practitioner you are, this one-of-a-kind field-guide is a goldmine in science-based applications. You’ll be able to immediately bring the science of well-being into action!

Zielgruppe

Clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counselors, coaches, work/organizational psychologists, and educationalists as well as students.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Niemiec, Ryan M.

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Psychologie Psychotherapie / Klinische Psychologie Beratungspsychologie
• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizinische Fachgebiete Psychiatrie, Sozialpsychiatrie, Suchttherapie

Leseproben

Contents

Dedication

Praise for the Book

Foreword

Preface

A Unique Role

The Science–Practice Gap

Why Now?

There Is No Algorithm for Life

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 Foundations of Strengths-Based Practice: Seven Core Concepts of the Science of Character

Introduction

Common Language

Dimensionality and Context

Culture: A Special Kind of Context

Plurality

All 24 Character Strengths Matter

Different Types of Strengths

Talents (What We Do Naturally Well)

Skills (What We Train Ourselves to Do)

Interests (Our Passions)

Resources (Our External Supports)

Values (What We Internally Hold Dear)

The Driving Force

Character Strengths Subsets

Character Strengths Can Be Developed

Being and Doing

Chapter 2 Signature Strengths: Research and Practice

Introduction

Why Are Signature Strengths Important?

Core Concepts

Signature Strengths Research

Signature Strengths in New Ways

Signature Strengths Across Contexts

Amplify a Top Strength or Remediate a Weakness?

Why and How Do Signature Strengths Work?

Key Issues in Working With Signature Strengths

Types of Strengths Blindness

The Strengths Paradox

Beyond Character Strengths Awareness

How to Use Signature Strengths in New Ways

Chapter 3 Practice Essentials: Six Integration Strategies for a Strengths-Based Practice

Introduction

1. Recognize, Label, and Affirm Strengths in Yourself

Self-Assessment and Self-Nomination

Self-Monitor for Strengths

The Power of Narrative

Who Sees You?

Affirming Strengths

2. Character Strengths Are Social

Why Labeling?

Why Explaining?

Why Appreciating?

Putting the Steps Together

Train Yourself to Look for Strength Behaviors

3. Align Character Strengths With Activities

4. Use the Strengths-Based Practice Model

Background: Aware-Explore-Apply Model

Using the Aware-Explore-Apply Model

5. Embed Character Strengths into your Professional Approach

Psychodynamic Orientation

Humanistic Orientation

Cognitive-Behavioral Orientations

Family Therapy

Solution-Focused Approaches

Coaching Approaches

Any Therapeutic Orientation

6. Use Your Own Strengths in Sessions and in Meetings

Chapter 4 Behavioral Traps, Misconceptions, and Strategies

Introduction

Behavioral Traps and Suggested Strategies

Just Show Up

Remediate Lower Strengths, Deficits, and Weaknesses

Jump to Action Before Understanding

Start With “What Went Wrong?”

Be Rigid About Top Strengths

Overplay Overuse

Take the Prescriptive/Authoritarian Approach

Misconceptions, Realities, and Tips

Misconception 1: Focusing on Strengths is Pollyannaish

Misconception 2: Working With Strengths Is Easy

Misconception 3: All Strengths Are Created Equal

Misconception 4: Character Strengths Are Static

Misconception 5: Knowing Your Strengths Is Enough

Misconception 6: Most People Already Know Their Character Strengths Well

Misconception 7: “Character” Refers to a Handful of Traits

Misconception 8: Talking About Character Strengths Is Bragging and Egotistical

Avoidance, Nonavoidance, and Culture

Chapter 5 Advanced Issues in Applying Character Strengths

Introduction

Overuse, Underuse, and the Golden Mean

Synergies and Collisions: The Four-Quadrant Model

Examine Intrapersonal Synergies

Examine Interpersonal Synergies

Experimenting With Intrapersonal Collisions

Experimenting With Interpersonal Collisions

Resolving Interpersonal Collisions

Hot Buttons

Hot Button Management – Overarching Strategies

Hot Button Management – Specific Strategies

Morality

Mindfulness, Savoring, Flow, and Hypnosis

Mindfulness

Savoring

Distinguishing Between Mindfulness and Savoring

Flow

Hypnosis Trances

An Integration of Everything?

Chapter 6 Character Strength Spotlights: 24 Practitioner-Friendly Handouts

Introduction

Core Features

Chapter 7 How to Apply Character Strengths Interventions

Introduction

Optimal Conditions for Successful CSIs

Putting It All Together: Tailoring CSIs

Research Evidence: Strengths and Limitations

A Word About Programs

Tailored Intervention Packages

Chapter 8 Research-Based Interventions for Character Strengths

Character Strengths Awareness

Introduction

Content

CSI 1: Getting Started: Introducing and Exploring Character Strengths

CSI 2: Take the VIA

CSI 3: Affirm/Value Your Strengths

CSI 4: Boost Your Motivation

CSI 5: Subtract a Signature Strength

CSI 6: Character Strengths Genogram

CSI 7: Character Strengths 360°

CSI 8: Self-Monitor Your Strengths

CSI 9: Stories and Character Strengths (Develop Strengths-Spotting)

CSI 10: Mentors/Role Models

Character Strengths Use

Introduction

Contents

CSI 11: Use a Signature Strength in a New Way

CSI 12: Acting “As If” (Acting From Strength)

CSI 13: Turn a Strength Inward

CSI 14: Create a Strengths Habit

CSI 15: Signature Strengths Across Domains

CSI 16: Holistic Strengths Use

CSI 17: Pathways to Virtue Use

CSI 18: Head, Heart, and Hands: Living a Virtuous Life

CSI 19: Boost a Lower Strength

Meaning and Engagement

Introduction

Contents

CSI 20: Strengths Alignment

CSI 21: The Deathbed Test

CSI 22: Life Summary

CSI 23: What Matters Most?

CSI 24: Cultivate Inner Self-Worth

CSI 25: Defining Moments Exercise

CSI 26: Positive Action Through Movies

Specific Character Strengths

Introduction

Contents

CSI 27: Boosting Curiosity Through Novelty

CSI 28: Imagined Conversation

CSI 29: Activate Your Zest!

CSI 30: Loving-Kindness Meditation

CSI 31: Gift of Time

CSI 32: Pay it Forward

CSI 33: Prosocial Spending

CSI 34: Enhance Teamwork Through Role Matching

CSI 35: Boosting Humility

CSI 36: Engaging With Beauty

CSI 37: Three Good Things

CSI 38: Gratitude Letter/Visit

CSI 39:...