Can Positive Psychology Therapy Replace Traditional Counseling?

In recent years, positive psychology therapy has gained traction as a new approach to counseling. Focusing on strengths, positive emotions, and well-being, this approach offers a refreshing perspective on mental health care.

One notable advancement in counseling and therapy is Positive Affect Treatment, developed at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Unlike traditional therapies that primarily address negative symptoms, Positive Affect Treatment aims to enhance positive emotions and how we pursue, experience, and create positive outcomes in life. Clinical studies have demonstrated that Positive Affect Treatment not only improves positive mood states but also reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (Craske et al., 2019, 2023). This dual focus makes it a compelling option for individuals seeking positive psychology therapy in California due to Positive Affect Treatment’s holistic approach to mental health – reducing the bad and increasing the good.

Positive psychology therapy in California is characterized by its strength-based, client-centered, and culturally sensitive methodologies. Moreover, positive psychology therapy in California often incorporates teletherapy options, increasing accessibility for clients across the state. This flexibility ensures that individuals from various backgrounds and locations can benefit from therapies like Positive Affect Treatment, which focus on enhancing well-being rather than solely mitigating distress.​

Positive Affect Treatment is rooted in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and various techniques that increase positive thinking, emotions, and behaviors. CBT has been around since the 1960s-70s and is considered a gold standard treatment of anxiety and depression (David et al., 2018). So, to ask whether positive psychology therapy (in this case, Positive Affect Treatment) can replace traditional counseling (e.g., CBT) doesn’t exactly fit. Rather, Positive Affect Treatment is an evolution of CBT that focuses on positivity to a much greater degree than traditional CBT and provides strong benefits in both increasing positive mood and decreasing negative mood. Positive Affect Treatment is cutting-edge and can help people who are anxious, depressed, stressed, and very low in positivity (e.g., pleasure, motivation) (Craske et al., 2019, 2023).

In conclusion, positive psychology therapy in California represents a promising evolution in mental health care. With interventions like Positive Affect Treatment, individuals have access to therapies that not only alleviate symptoms but also help them flourish and thrive. Due to its cutting-edge nature, Positive Affect Treatment is offered by only a handful of psychologists. For example, Dr. Tomislav Zbozinek graduated from UCLA from the specific psychology laboratory and clinic that developed Positive Affect Treatment. He offers it as part of his private practice (Anxiety and Depression Treatment Specialists; www.adtspsych.com).