How Positive Psychology Helps Heal Anxiety and Depression- ADTS Psych

 

Positive psychology, a field dedicated to enhancing well-being by fostering positive emotions and strengths, offers promising interventions for individuals grappling with anxiety and depression. For those seeking a positivepsychology therapist in Los Angeles and Connecticut, understanding these interventions can be a valuable first step toward recovery.

The Power of Positive Affect Treatment

Traditional therapies (such as cognitive-behavioral therapy) often focus on reducing negative symptoms, but positive psychology emphasizes cultivating positive emotions. A randomized clinical trial compared Positive Affect Treatment (PAT) with Negative Affect Treatment (NAT) among individuals with severe depression or anxiety. Results showed that PAT led to greater improvements in positive emotions and reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Notably, participants in the PAT group also reported lower suicidal thinking or behaviors at a six-month follow-up (Craske et al., 2019). In a follow-up clinical trial, the results were similar, where PAT again increase positive emotions and reduced negative symptoms to a greater degree than NAT (Craske et al., 2023). Importantly, this second clinical trial showed how PAT improved symptoms – especially positive emotions. It did so by helping people improve how strongly they anticipate and pursue positive outcomes in life and how positive they feel when those positive outcomes occur. Overall, PAT helps people increase their attention to positive aspects of their life and increase the frequency, breadth, and depth of positive emotions they feel during positive times. PAT is one of the very few treatments that is very strong in increasing positive emotions in addition to decreasing negative emotions. It’s truly a cutting-edge treatment that can help a wide variety of people. Working with a positive psychology therapist in Los Angeles and Connecticut can provide personalized guidance on how to apply PAT in daily life.

The Broaden-and-Build Theory

Barbara Fredrickson's Broaden-and-Build Theory posits that positive emotions broaden an individual's thought-action repertoire, leading to the building of enduring personal resources (Fredrickson, 2001; Huppert et al., 2004). This theory underscores the importance of cultivating positive emotions to enhance resilience and overall well-being.

Practical Applications

Implementing positive psychology interventions can be straightforward. Practices such as gratitude journaling (Lambert et al., 2012), performing acts of kindness (Curry et al., 2018), and savoring positive experiences (Craske et al., 2019, 2023) have been shown to increase happiness and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression (Moskowitz et al., 2021). Incorporating these practices under the guidance of a positive psychology therapist in Los Angeles and Connecticut can lead to meaningful improvements in mental health.

Conclusion

Positive psychology offers effective strategies for healing anxiety and depression by focusing on enhancing positive emotions and strengths. Engaging with a positive psychology therapist in Los Angeles can provide the support and tools necessary to implement these interventions, paving the way toward improved well-being. One such example is Tomislav Zbozinek, PhD, who is a board-certified psychologist who does PAT therapy. His website is www.adtspsych.com.

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