Positive Interventions and Their Effectiveness with Clinical Populations

Abstract

This chapter is aimed at emphasizing the importance of promoting positive functioning in clinical settings. Common technical strategies shared by positive and clinical interventions are discussed. In order to provide clinicians with a toolkit of positive psychology strategies, the main positive psychotherapeutic strategies aimed at promoting positive functioning, that have been developed and tested in clinical trials are described: Well-being Therapy, Quality of Life therapy, Positive Psychotherapy and Strengths based Counseling. Finally, the chapter provides an overview on the beneficial effects of positive interventions, as well as on their possible paradoxical effects. Clinical implications are then discussed, with a special recommendation of integrating psychotherapy research design when testing and implementing positive interventions.