Positive Psychology in a nutshell hopes to propel the broader field of psychology away from a sole reliance on an individual medical-model approach and towards an ecological understanding of how a person functions and interacts with themselves and their social worlds. This means shifting our understanding of disease from solely being within one’s brain (i.e., ‘broken brain’ or medical model) towards how our self, including our genetics and biology, interact with our families, communities and wider world (ecological model).
Whereas the medical model restricts the lens of how we view psychology to the presence and eradication of symptomology at an individual level, an ecological approach takes into consideration the biopsychosocial world that enriches, deepens, or hinders the psyche of a person. There is even evidence that a ‘brain disease’ model may actually be harmful to those seeking supports due to higher levels of stigmatization.
This ecological approach helps mental health professionals (MHPs) who are able to integrate many more variables in the make-up of who their clients are, such as; what are their interests, what their social relationships are like, what meaning do they derive from the world, what cultures do they belong to, or what community do they most identify with. For example; there is a litany of emerging research on epigenetics that situates that environmental influences affect the expression of our genes.
The critical question to ask is ‘does the absence of mental health symptoms automatically mean someone is doing well?’ Research has uncovered that there are a wide sleuth of people who aren’t suffering from debilitating ‘mental health’ issues but who also are not happy or flourishing in life. Helping target factors which increase our happiness and joy and decrease psychopathology is called a Dual-Factor Model of Mental Health. The integration of the two being the catalyst for a movement known as Positive Psychology which seeks to equip individuals, both who have mental health illness and who don’t (along with those who are doing ‘well’ and who are not), with capabilities we all possess such as resilience, tenacity, courage, purpose, curiosity, etc. Martin Selligman has established an entire Positive Psychology database with resources.
One of the first places I like to start with clients is having them complete a values inventory and character strengths test. Through a strengths-based approach to treatment; clients are empowered to form new adaptive processes and change mechanisms on the foundation of what they are already doing well and excelling at (and being aware of their strengths). A free inventory can be taken here.
Syed Rizvi l PhD l Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Syed Rizvi graduated with a doctorate in psychology from the University of Houston. He is a multilingual provider (English, Urdu, and Hindi). Dr. Rizvi has experience working in social processes, cognitive, sleep-deprivation, and adolescent-focused labs.
