Goal-Focused Positive Psychotherapy
“We believe Goal Focused Positive Psychotherapy (GFPP) opens psychotherapy to a revolutionary new path that diverges from the therapeutic methods now in practice. We regard GFPP as an exciting and unique approach to helping people find happiness while diminishing feelings of distress. We strive to convey the paradigm shift within GFPP through the mechanism of change employed (i.e., Broaden-and-Build) and the focus upon well-being rather than pathology. Our aim was to provide a method that helps people lead happier, more satisfying lives despite the inevitable problems of life that all people encounter. The enhancement of people's lives above a focus on problems and symptom alleviation is the priority. Through increasing positive emotions and hope, GFPP makes psychotherapy more enjoyable for clients while decreasing or making more manageable clients' problems and symptoms. "
Through increasing positive emotions and hope, GFPP makes psychotherapy more enjoyable for clients while decreasing or making more manageable clients' problems and symptoms. GFPP is a very teachable therapeutic method based on four processes: (1) the identification and enhancement of client strengths, (2) the promotion of positive emotions, (3) the formation of approach goals, and (4) engendering hope. These four GFPP hallmarks are interconnected and interrelated as they unfold in therapy.
GFPP requires the therapist to embrace an authentic belief in the benefits of a psychotherapy that prizes strengths rather than highlighting pathology; moves from extrinsically oriented avoidant goals to intrinsically oriented approach goals; shifts from fearing negative emotions and problems to feeling confident about experiencing negative emotions because positive emotions become more accessible; and moves from tendencies to avoid past memories and future fears to embracing the present by fully experiencing life, and eagerly anticipating a more meaningful and happier future.