Positive Psychology in Practice

“This is an excellent book that provides an up-to-date, accessible, and comprehensive overview of the best positive psychology Interventions that are currently available. It reflects a deep understanding of positive psychology, as it not only gives an accurate account of the field's growing complexities but also addresses the movement’s roots within the history of psychology.”--Carmelo Vazquez, Complutense University and President of the International Positive Psychology Association 

“When the first edition of Positive Psychology in Practice arrived in 2004 it was an early and authoritative reference for an emerging science and its application. Now, a decade later, we are graced with a second edition. Here, you will find updated chapters and all new content. This book provides a deep dive into current trends in research and practice for anyone interested in positive psychology.--Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener, Author of The Upside of Your Dark Side and The Courage Quotient and Professor at Portland State University 

“One of psychology’s best books just got better. Experts, evidence, applications. Exactly what you need to make positive psychology work in practice, and work well. A definite resource addition to my own library and practice.”--George Burns, Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the Cairnmillar Institute in Australia and Author of 101 Healing Stories and Happiness, Healing, Enhancement 

"This book is a critical companion for anyone who works for the betterment of others; be they an educator, consultant, coach, a health professional of some kind, or an applied researcher. Stephen Joseph set out to assemble a volume of wide ranging appeal and he has delivered precisely that. It expands wonderfully on the first edition, capturing much of what has transpired in the field over the past decade. Pleasingly, it has also turned toward questions that have not always been dealt with well by other authors, most notably the place that negative experiences have within a life well lived. I feel happy for my first edition copy--it will finally get a well-deserved rest!"--Dr. Gordon Spence, Program Director, Master of Business Coaching, Sydney Business School, University of Wollongon, Australia

“For each of the last ten years, I have assigned Positive Psychology in Practice as required reading for my course on positive interventions in the Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program at the University of Pennsylvania. I am delighted to see this second edition, which expands the content in exciting new directions and brings the chapters up to date. My students and I are grateful to Stephen Joseph and the many chapter authors for this valuable contribution to the field.”—James O. Pawelski, Director of Education and Senior Scholar, Positive Psychology Center, University of Pennsylvania

“Positive Psychology in Practice, 2e is a milestone in the annals of texts detailing the intricacies of positive psychological inquiry. Its stress on the social implicationsof positive psychology, for example, makes it not only relevant to public policy but also to the kind of society, and indeed world, we wish to foster. Furthermore, its coverage of humanistic and existential perspectives on positive psychological practice will be greatly welcomed in those areas of our profession that have been skeptical of conventional positive psychological emphases on the ‘good life’ with relatively less emphasis on the ‘full’ or ‘vital’ life. These existential and humanistic dimensions add notably to our deepening knowledge of such areas as resilience, post-traumatic growth, and qualitative/subjective experiences of what it means to flourish. In short, I highly recommend Positive Psychology in Practice, 2e as a rigorous and humanizing exploration of the vital life.”—Kirk Schneider, PhD, adjunct faculty member at Saybrook University and Teachers College, Columbia University, and author of Existential-Humanistic Therapy, The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology, and The Polarized Mind