Positive Psychology For Healthcare Professionals

Positive Psychology for Healthcare Professionals presents applied positive psychology specifically for health and care staff, showcasing eleven different interventions that have proven to be effective in improving wellbeing.

Positive psychology aims to understand how people can better their lives, and ultimately, flourish. Since Martin Seligman spearheaded this movement of looking for the positives in life rather than focusing on the negatives, substantial research has been conducted. This research indicates that positive psychological resources, such as resilience, self-efficacy, optimism, hope, and self-esteem can help individuals build their personal capabilities, which are associated with higher levels of physical, psychological, social and behavioral health. Health management is also a broad topic, containing management of all health-related issues, involving policy-making, legal regulation, workforce management, healthcare quality, specific disease management, etc. There has been a drastic increase in research on applying positive psychology to health management. The increasing theoretical and empirical studies have revealed that positive psychological theories have positive effects on the patients’ physical and mental health, quality of life and on healthcare workers’ job satisfaction, burnout, and quality of work life. Disease management and health workforce management are two major subjects that involve positive psychology, that have been widely investigated in the past few years. Therefore, by combining positive psychology and health management, this topic aims to facilitate cutting edge ideas and research to explore multidisciplinary approaches of positive psychology in disease management and health workforce management. Our specific aim is to explore how the construct of positive psychology mitigates the negative consequences on patients or family with disease burden, and healthcare workers under job-related stress. Furthermore, we hope to recognize the distinct adaptive trajectories of these areas, on which positive psychological resources may have an effect. Based on these, we want to highlight the efficacy, effectiveness and implementation of positive psychology-based intervention for patients or healthcare workers to promote resiliency. Through the achievement of these aims, we also hope to develop new theories and instruments which are culturally sensitive and contextually innovative.

Roots of Positive Change, Optimizing Health Care with Positive Psychology reviews the science of positive psychology and its impact on health and well-being, providing guidance to physicians and other health professionals on how to practically implement this science into clinical practice. The book is written in a format that is accessible to anyone interested in the topic and applying it to their personal well-being. The foreword by eminent positive psychology researcher, Barbara Fredrickson, sets the stage for this pioneering book, which is a breakthrough in the movement to harness positive psychology for health care. Chapters cover key topics, including the types of activities shown to boost positive emotions and improve emotional well-being (such as mindfulness, gratitude practice, and acts of kindness); conducting well-being assessments; prescribing positive activities as part of treatment interventions; redesigning health care practices to integrate positive psychology strategies; coaching health behavior change using positive psychology techniques; implementing quality improvement processes to enhance these services; teaching, modeling and advocating for positive psychology in health care; and promoting well-being of physicians and other health care workers. The chapters are cross-referenced, so that readers can go directly to the topic(s) of interest. Key information is presented in bulleted formats and summary charts for easy access.Lifestyle medicine, the area of medicine that emphasizes healthy lifestyles treatment, is highlighted as an early adopter of positive psychology due to the reciprocal and reinforcing nature of healthy habits and positive emotions. Recommendations for how core competencies in the practice of lifestyle medicine can be enhanced with emphasis on positive psychology are presented. The book acknowledges that more research is needed to delineate best practices for applying positive psychology in health care and points to research questions that can pave the way. Innovative, yet practical, this contribution to the health, medical and psychology literature will resonate as an essential reference for those aiming to make a difference in their personal health and well-being and in the lives of their patients.

Roots of Positive Change, Optimizing Health Care with Positive Psychology reviews the science of positive psychology and its impact on health and well-being, providing guidance to physicians and other health professionals on how to practically implement this science into clinical practice. The book is written in a format that is accessible to anyone interested in the topic and applying it to their personal well-being. The foreword by eminent positive psychology researcher, Barbara Fredrickson, sets the stage for this pioneering book, which is a breakthrough in the movement to harness positive psychology for health care. Key topics covered include activities that boost positive emotions and improve emotional well-being (such as mindfulness, gratitude practice, and acts of kindness); positive activities as part of treatment of chronic diseases; coaching health behavior change; teaching and advocating for positive psychology in health care; and promoting well-being of physicians and other health care workers. The book acknowledges that more research is needed to delineate best practices for applying positive psychology in health care, and paves the way for such research. Innovative, yet practical, this contribution to the health, medical and psychology literature will resonate as an essential reference for those aiming to make a difference in their personal health and well-being and in the lives of their patients.

NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) is a recognised and validated means of providing expert communication and personal effectiveness in both life and work contexts. It is well used in all contexts and is well established in the business world, but is yet to be widely used in health care practice (although is gaining ground in terms of improving health of individuals). This book provides an accessible introduction to NLP for healthcare professionals. Breaking down any complicated terminology, it gives practical applications of all commonly used NLP tools, demonstrating their value and inspiring readers to apply them in their day-to-day work. Demonstrates NLP and coaching can be used in healthcare by practitioners to enhance their own practice, the service delivered by the team and improve patient care Highlights effective tools in coaching to make a difference in practice Demonstrates the value of self development through coaching to individuals in health care It is written as a practical tool kit, making development effective, accessible and fun

The challenge of transforming organizational culture is at the heart of many key movements in contemporary healthcare, and understanding culture change has become a core leadership competency. However, much current practice is based on antiquated and psychologically unsophisticated theories, leaving leaders inadequately prepared for the complex task of implementing change. Leading Change in Healthcare presents relationship-centered administration, an effective new evidence-based alternative to traditional culture change methodologies. It integrates fresh insights and methods from complexity science, positive psychology and relationship-centered care, enabling a more spontaneous and reflective approach to change management. This fosters greater organizational awareness and real participation, as well as improved productivity and creativity, as well as staff recruitment and retention. Case studies drawn from primary care, hospitals, long-term care, professional education, international NGOs and other settings, rather than emphasizing the end results, are demonstrations of how to apply relationship-centered administration in everyday practice. Leading Change in Healthcare is a key resource for all practitioners, students and teachers of healthcare management, medical educators, and leaders in all areas of healthcare provision. 'We need a new way of seeing, a new way of leading - and the authors provide a clear guide and resources for the path ahead. Leading Change in Healthcare offers hope - and a method. A daily dose is just what the change doctor ordered.' from the Foreword by Carol Aschenbrener.

This comprehensive compendium offers a wealth of research-informed tools that can boost both physical and mental wellbeing throughout the lifespan. Filled with more than 100 activities to help you live life better, this book is the first of its kind to integrate the latest research from the fields of positive psychology and lifestyle medicine. Striking a careful balance between theory and practice, the book first reviews what is known about positive psychology and health, presenting a novel approach to holistic wellbeing. It then goes on to provide more than 100 tools designed to increase physical, mental and social health and wellbeing, and also to decrease the risk of illness and disease. The tools described can be used by people of all ages, whether well or experiencing illness. It includes tools that you can use to improve your nutrition and sleep, to increase your physical activity, to develop positive relationships, to develop a positive mindset and to pursue a meaning in life. These tools provide research-informed, practical advice to help you to make lasting changes and become the best possible version of yourself. This book is invaluable for anyone who wishes to maintain and enhance their health and wellbeing using tools that have been shown through research to be effective. It is also a key text for students in positive psychology and healthcare, as well serving as an evidence-based reference book for coaches and health professionals who wish to recommend research-informed tools to their clients and patients.

A thorough and up-to-date guide to putting positive psychology into practice From the Foreword: "This volume is the cutting edge of positive psychology and the emblem of its future." -Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D., Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, and author of Authentic Happiness Positive psychology is an exciting new orientation in the field, going beyond psychology's traditional focus on illness and pathology to look at areas like well-being and fulfillment. While the larger question of optimal human functioning is hardly new - Aristotle addressed it in his treatises on eudaimonia - positive psychology offers a common language on this subject to professionals working in a variety of subdisciplines and practices. Applicable in many settings and relevant for individuals, groups, organizations, communities, and societies, positive psychology is a genuinely integrative approach to professional practice. Positive Psychology in Practice fills the need for a broad, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art reference for this burgeoning new perspective. Cutting across traditional lines of thinking in psychology, this resource bridges theory, research, and applications to offer valuable information to a wide range of professionals and students in the social and behavioral sciences. A group of major international contributors covers: The applied positive psychology perspective Historical and philosophical foundations Values and choices in pursuit of the good life Lifestyle practices for health and well-being Methods and processes for teaching and learning Positive psychology at work The best and most thorough treatment of this cutting-edge discipline, Positive Psychology in Practice is an essential resource for understanding this important new theory and applying its principles to all areas of professional practice.