A specific psychotherapeutic strategy for increasing psychological well-being and resilience, well-being therapy (WBT), based on Ryff’s conceptual model, has been developed and tested in a number of randomized controlled trials. The findings indicate that flourishing and resilience can be promoted by specific interventions leading to a positive evaluation of one’s self, a sense of continued growth and development, the belief that life is purposeful and meaningful, the possession of quality relations with others, the capacity to manage effectively one’s life and a sense of self-determination. A decreased vulnerability to depression, mood swings and anxiety has been demonstrated after WBT in high-risk populations. School interventions based on the principles of WBT have been found to yield both promotion of well-being and decrease of distress compared with control groups. The differential technical characteristics and indications of WBT are described, with a special reference to the promotion of an individualized and balanced path to achieve optimal human functioning, avoiding the polarities in positive psychological dimensions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Key Practitioner Message
- A specific psychotherapeutic strategy, well-being therapy, for modifying the levels of psychological well-being has been developed and tested.
- In controlled trials, it has yielded significant benefits in clinical populations, particularly as to vulnerability to affective alterations.
- Well-being therapy may help in achieving flexibility and balance in psychological dimensions that underlie optimal human functioning.
- Best results are achieved when it is applied to the sub-acute phase of mood and anxiety disorders, in a sequential model.
- Well-being therapy may have a preventive role in general populations and particularly in children.