Character Strengths Interventions: A Field Guide for Practitioners - Softcover

Niemiec, Ryan M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0889374929 ISBN 13: 9780889374928

Publisher: Hogrefe Publishing, 2017

Synopsis

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 clients' (and our own) character strengths boosts wellbeing, 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!

About this title

Review

"Character Strength Interventions gives readers a fantastic in-depth tour of the science of the 24 Values-In-Action (VIA) strengths. The guide contains many immediately applicable interventions that can be used with clients.For practitioners like me, the true gems of this book are the tips, snapshots, handouts, and interventions.The guide includes 24 very useful handouts, one for each of the VIA strengths. These contain a definition, research highlights, questions for strengths building, and interventions. These handouts are fantastic resources to help practitioners and their clients understand the essence of each strength, where to learn more about it, and ways to develop and use it. Even better than the handouts are the 70 strengths interventions that make up chapter 8. Most of these interventions come with an overview, the purpose of the intervention, the specific steps involved, and the research behind it. Many of these also come with tips and even troubleshooting ideas.Character Strengths Interventions is a gold mine for practitioners. Its tips, 24 handouts, and 70 interventions are the most valuable nuggets.";Scott Crabtree, teacher of neuroscience, psychology, and the science of happiness, at Positive Psychology News, http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/author/scott-crabtree ;"Honestly, I read the entire book and appreciated all that Niemiec offered. The book itself is well-written, offers in-depth information, direction, background, appendices, practitioner snapshots and oh so much more. I will continue to suggest it to colleagues who might be interested in the content because, in my experience, if you read the book, take the time to reflect on the material, do the snapshot activities, practice the protocols yourself before client use, there's much to be gained." ;Nancy Eichhorn in International Body Psychotherapy Journal. The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis, vol. 16/3, 2017; "Character strength interventions are about getting clients in touch with their strengths and finding ways to utilize those strengths to cultivate meaning and enrich their lives. He educates the reader on the foundations of character strength interventions, relays evidence to support his claims about the usefulness of character strength interventions, and explains countless interventions step-by-step providing practitioners with a useful handbook Character Strengths Interventions is a must read for clinicians who believe in using strengths-based interventions or who are interested in learning more about positive psychology in practice." ; Monica Spafford, des. applied psychologist, New York, NY, in International Body Psychotherapy Journal. The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis, vol. 16/3, 2017;

About the Author

Ryan M. Niemiec, PsyD, is Education Director of the VIA Institute on Character, a nonprofit organization in Cincinnati, Ohio that is viewed as the global leader in advancing the science and practice of character strengths. Ryan is author of several books, including Mindfulness and Character Strengths: A Practical Guide to Flourishing, and coauthor of Positive Psychology at the Movies; and Movies and Mental Illness. Ryan is an award-winning psychologist, certified coach, international workshop leader, positive psychology "fellow," and is adjunct professor at Xavier University, University of Pennsylvania, and a visiting lecturer at several other institutions. Ryan helps professionals in counseling, coaching, business, disability, and education around the world apply character strengths, personally and professionally in their work. He leads seminal character strengths courses and develops personalized reports for the VIA Institute. He has penned over 60 peer-reviewed/invited articles and hundreds of lay-friendly articles on character strengths, mindfulness, and related topics. He is especially interested in the intersection of character strengths with mindfulness, savoring, resilience, flourishing, intellectual/developmental disability, and health promotion.

Edition details

• Publisher: Hogrefe Publishing
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 0889374929
• ISBN 13: 9780889374928
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 300