In need of a 250 word response/discussion to each of the following forum posts. Agreement/disagreement/and/or continuing the discussion.

Original forum discussion/topic post is as follows:

Forum Assignment for the Week: What distinguishes the positive psychotherapy approach from other theoretical frameworks covered in this course? What are the strengths and limitations of using an integrated approach to psychotherapy and the understanding of personality?

Forum post response #1

This week we read about Positive Psychotherapy and Integrative Psychotherapies. These two topics are closely related.

Positive Psychotherapy is different from all of the other forms of psychotherapy that we have learned about, because the focus is on something different. As is obvious from the title, Positive Psychotherapy attempts to look at the positives in the client's life. In all of the psychotherapy forms that we have learned about in the last seven weeks, all of the other forms, besides Positive Psychotherapy, have focused on something that is wrong in the client's life and how to fix the feelings that are associated with that wrong situation, feeling, childhood experience, etc. However, Positive Psychotherapy helps the client to identify and focus on what is right and positive in the client's life. It does not attempt to ignore that there is unhappiness, but rather to foster happy, calming, and competent feelings in the client by bringing attention to the things that are right in the client's life. I believe we all have been in a 'mood' where we feel like everything is going wrong and nothing is going right for us. At least for myself, it is helpful if myself or someone else points out to me all of the things in my life that I am blessed with and that are actually going well and causing happiness and satisfaction. This is, essentially, what Positive Psychotherapy involves. It is also important to note that Positive Psychotherapy does not believe that each person has happiness in their character, but rather the happiness stems from interactions in our environment. For example, Positive Psychotherapy does not believe that 'money buys happiness.' However, Positive Psychotherapy believes that material items can make you happy. While this can seem like the same things, Positive Psychotherapy believes more in the process and interaction with the items to bring happiness to the client.

Utilizing an integrated approach to each client is important, because most clients will not align fully with one psychotherapy form. Further, a therapist will not have clients that all have the same temperament, personality, childhood experiences, environment, etc. Because each client is an individual, and different from the other clients, utilizing one psychotherapy form for every client would be both unprofessional and ineffective. However, a limitation to using an integrated approach of psychotherapy is that no therapist is able to be trained in every form of psychotherapy. Further, it may take a trial-and-error method to discover which therapy form works best for each client. This can take time and can be frustrating to both a client and therapist, and even may result in a client dropping out of therapy.

Forum post responses #2

I hope everyone is off to a great week. This week we are learning about Positive psychotherapy (PPT) and Integrative psychotherapy. We are asked to discuss how PPT distinguishes itself from the other frameworks we have learned in this course. PPT is an approach to enhance traditional therapy by balancing the negatives with positives. Traditional therapy is focused on repairing the negatives. A key underlying assumption in traditional therapy is that by addressing childhood events or faulty thinking can facilitate a cure. Instead, PPT focuses on instilling positive emotions, personal meaning, and healthy relationships. I was dubious of this approach because it sounds easier said than done. Sometimes people are not ready to be positive.
Today, at work, I was informed that a co-worker committed herself to a clinic last week for suicidal thoughts. Before I left on my trip, she appeared to be doing well. I asked the person who shared this information with me, what was the trigger? She said she's been going to therapy and confronting her past, so while she's processing the information, it is reminding her of her problems. This situation has resonated with me, particularly, because of our lesson this week. Yes, traditional therapy in theory makes sense. By addressing all the negatives and finding resources to overcome those thoughts or feelings should be beneficial; however, maybe it is too negative. A statement in our lesson stood out--”Results [referring to traditional therapy] are empty clients” (Corsini and Wedding, 2014).
As therapist employ traditional techniques, maybe they incorporate PPT to balance the negative. PPT encourages character strengths like gratitude, love, and optimism. Those who experience the positive character strengths tend to be happier and satisfied. PPT consists of a 14-session model, which is highly focused and structured. It begins with an orientation of PPT and a positive introduction with the therapist. The following sessions include inventories on different character strengths and consists of journaling and homework. Depending on the symptoms and disorder, the therapist may focus in on positive character strengths that are lacking and negative characteristics that are in excess. For example, a person with depression may be lacking in hope or optimism and a person with panic disorder might have excess of apathy.
As mentioned earlier, I’m not sure PPT is right for everyone, but it is worth giving it a try. I believe most people want to strive for a pleasant life, an engaged life, and a meaningful life. To reorient a patient to consider those goals and ways to experience each are important to any therapy session. I feel like some of the previous psychotherapies touched on this idea, especially, reminding patients of the positive experiences in their life.

Forum post response #3

Hello class, I hope that all of you are having a good week. In terms Positive psychotherapy (PPT) and Integrative psychotherapy, both are instrumental tools in fostering healthy change mechanisms in clients. Positive psychotherapy is a form of psychological treatment that reduces certain negative symptom of negative functioning, in addition to developing a person’s engagement and positive emotions (Positive Psychology Program, 2018). It has been noted that PPT is based upon the Character Strengths model designed by Christopher Peterson, which integrates positive messaging with negative messaging. This is done in effort to help the client replace those self-doubts and negative emotions with healthy thought patterns. PPT also entails the use of meditation to help control thoughts and feelings. Patients are asked to find time during the day to mediate, journal or self-reflect. PPT also teaches clients to illicit different breathing techniques as well. As we are aware, PPT does attempt to have patients address certain childhood events and negative ways of thinking with positive emotions and positive ways of thinking. Talking about PPT, sounds very practical in application. However, I do wonder about the amount of time PPT would require in order to actually do what it is designed to do? How would you actually measure its effectiveness?

The literature seems to support the premise that changing and replacing a person’s negative thoughts and feelings with resources and techniques that are more positive in nature, are quite effective. In the article entitled, “Positive Psychotherapy: 5 Exercises and Tools for Counsellors and Therapist”, listed several different techniques for implementing PPT for a client. Those activities is listed as:

1. Have clients to use notebooks to record positive thoughts on a daily basis.
2. Write 5 things that clients are grateful for on a weekly basis
3. Write down daily things clients are grateful for (Positive Psychology Program, 2018).

In theory, it sounds as if PPT is a wonderful tool that can be used with client who suffer from lack of self-esteem. It sounds very constructive to work with client who suffer from mild forms of depression as well. However, my main concern is that it does appear to be very effective from reading but truly in application is an effective. Honestly, it does sound a bit weak in substance. I also believe that only certain therapists would be capable of facilitating PPT and actually have confidence in the practice. I know that I personally, would have difficulty facilitating PPT.