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Positive Psychology is a branch of psychology which explores the science of happiness. Often, psychology focuses on why people have problems and why they have developed maladaptive responses to particular situations. Its focus is more on "getting people out of a bad place" than "getting them to a wonderful place". Positive psychology is different. It starts from the point that, wherever we're at - even if our lives are generally ok - we have the capacity to be happier and lead more meaningful lives. Unlike some other hypnotherapy approaches, the positive hypnotherapy approach is forward looking and focuses on using safe techniques. 

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Positive Psychology is a branch of psychology which scientifically explores what makes life most worth living. Its roots are in the humanistic movement and the works of psychologists such as Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers, which encouraged an emphasis on wellbeing and and happiness. In 1998, psychologist and (at that time) President of the American Psychological Association, Martin Selligman, proposed a new subfield of psychology with a focus on identifying what makes life worth living, rather than focusing on what causes us problems. Since that time, Positive Psychology has become a highly respected subfield in psychology and has been the subject on teaching and research throughout the academic community. Positive Psychology is also at the root of much of the work of coaches, counsellors, teachers and workplace managers. Positive Psychology is all about helping us to shift our perspective.

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In contrast to psychological approaches which focus on mental illness, negative thinking and maladaptive behaviours, Positive Psychology focuses on identifying the strengths and resiliencies that people have to take the lives of people who are struggling to “normal”, and the lives of average people to “great”. “Positive psychology is the scientific study of what makes life most worth living” (Peterson, 2008).

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This approach is about helping us recognise what is already wonderful in our lives, and what is amazing about ourselves. Most of us have a tendency to hone in on the negatives and put ourselves down. Often this tendency goes right back to our earliest experience, and being criticised, ignored or neglected during our earlier years. We might have a good life, and perhaps be in a stable relationship, or have a decent income, or have our health. Whatever it is that we do have, we maybe just don’t see it. We’re so busy focusing in on the negatives that we don’t notice the good stuff. Positive Psychology helps us to notice what is good in our lives and how we can build on that. 

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The focus of Positive Psychology is on:

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·      Positive experiences (such as happiness, joy, love and inspiration)

·      Positive states and traits (such as resilience, gratitude and compassion)

·      Positive institutions (applying positive principles within entire organisations and institutions). 

 

Positive Psychology was developed by a psychologist and has been backed up and redefined with over twenty years of rigorous scientific research.  Positive Psychology has a back catalogue of research which clearly demonstrates how people can create happiness and meaning in their lives. 

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Hypnotherapy has the advantage of being able to allow the client to experience what their life will be like if it was more meaningful and happier. Being able to visualise the future, during a hypnosis session, is incredibly motivating. In contrast to being something which is abstract and “out there”, visualisation in hypnosis makes a realistic future feel attainable and realistic. People feel so much more motivated and competent in achieving that future state when they have experienced it in this way.  Bringing in tools such as NLP allows us to work with whatever it is that is holding a client back from living their best life. All those old, negative beliefs can be quickly left behind, where they belong, as the client learns to reframe their perspective in their journey towards their new life. 

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See also my other Hypnotherapy modalities: HypnoIBS and Somasence