The polarities of psychological well being and their response to treatment

Résumé 0

An increasing number of investigations in the positive psychology area has suggested the benefits of improving well-being and positivity. However, observations from clinical domains raised some concerns on the effectiveness and utility of such interventions, because excessively elevated levels in positive domains could become detrimental and impede flourishing. The aim of this article is to describe these polarities in well-being and to suggest specific therapeutic strategies to promote flourishing and resilience. Well-being therapy (WBT) is a psychotherapeutic technique based on Ryff's conceptual model, that has been developed and tested in a number of randomized controlled trials. The differential technical characteristics and indications of WBT are described, with special reference to the promotion of an individualized and balanced path to achieve optimal human functioning, avoiding the polarities in positive psychological dimensions.