Learned Hopefulness: Ten Must-Have Positive Interventions to Relieve Anxiety & Depression and Create Lasting Change

Credit

Speaker

Dan Tomasulo, PhD, NADD-CC, MAPP Related seminars and products

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Dan Tomasulo, PhD, NADD-CC, MAPP, author of the groundbreaking books Learned Hopefulness and The Positivity Effect is a clinician, academic director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College of Columbia University, and adjunct faculty in the Applied Positive Psychology program at the University of Pennsylvania. Sharecare honors Dr. Tomasulo as a top ten online influencer on the issue of depression.

Dr. Tomasulo serves as an editor of Frontiers in Psychology and The Journal of Positive Psychology. He received the prestigious 2024 Gardner Award from the National Center for START Services® for his work applying positive psychology with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and he recently co-authored with Dr. Ryan Niemiec the book Character Strengths and Abilities within Disabilities: Advances in Science and Practice. He is a fellow of the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama. Dr. Tomasulo also holds an MFA in writing and his screenplay adaptation of his award-winning memoir, American Snake Pit, has won over 40 screenplay contests.

Additional Info

Program Information

For live CE credit, you must watch the live webcast in its entirety at its scheduled time and complete the CE quiz and evaluation within one week. You will have access for 90 days after the program for review.

Please note: There will be a 70-minute lunch and two 15-minute breaks; one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Lunch and break times will be announced by the speaker and at their discretion. A more detailed schedule is available upon request.

Visit our FAQ page at https://www.pesicanada.ca/faq or contact us at https://www.pesicanada.ca/contact-us.

Objectives

1. Evaluate the advances in positive psychology emphasizing the treatment prevalence paradox.
2. Determine how positive interventions impact the body, brain, and immune system.
3. Identify the use of character strengths in conjunction with DSM™ classification.
4. Choose evidence-based interventions to reappraise past experiences.
5. Identify the seven thinking habits of high-hope people.
6. Identify positive individual, couple, and group interventions to increase present awareness.

Outline

• The new science of happiness
• How a gratitude intervention changed psychotherapy
• Treatment prevalence paradox
• Happiness isn’t the same as no-depression
• DSM™ and the need for positive interventions
• Five essential components of positivity
• Common myths surrounding hope
• Seven thinking habits of high hope individuals

• How to use positive interventions
• Positive psychology intake interview
• Character strengths assessment
• Use the hierarchy of hope to plan interventions
• Strength-spotting during session
• Restructure past feelings: gratitude and self-compassion
• Teach clients to activate flow states for well-being and fulfillment
• Increase present awareness with the mindful pause and savouring
• How to increase sense of meaning, purpose, and mattering
• Access connection through kindness
• Interventions for the future: hope, optimism, and intention
• Case studies:
  • Individual Therapy: sudden isolation and major depression
  • Couples Therapy: constant fighting
  • Group Therapy: underserved population

• Identification and use of the therapist’s character strengths
• Individualism and other societal values
• Personal responsibility v. blame
• Cross-cultural implications
• Modifications for kids and teens
• Working with positive interventions with underserved populations
• Documentation
• Modifications for individuals, couples and groups
• Limitations of the research and potential risks

Target Audience

• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Addiction Counselors
• Marriage & Family Therapists
• Nurses
• Psychiatrists
• Physicians
• Other Mental Health Professionals