Clinical Applications of Well-Being Therapy

The concept of psychological well-being has received increasing attention in clinical psychology. This chapter underlines the fact that only a small proportion of individuals present with optimal well-being, that is, high hedonic and eudemonic well-being, paving the way for possible psychosocial interventions. It discusses the complexity of well-being in clinical settings and protocol of well-being therapy. Well-being therapy is structured, directive, problem-oriented, and based on an educational model. The chapter describes the development of sessions: initial sessions, intermediate sessions, and final sessions. The goal of the therapist is to lead the patient from an impaired level to an optimal level in the six dimensions of psychological well-being: environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life, autonomy, self-acceptancend positive relations with others. The chapter discusses some other clinical studies are currently in progress: residual phase of affective disorders, treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, cyclothymic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and child well-being therapy.