Walking on the Sunny Side: What Positive Psychology Can Contribute to Psychiatric Rehabilitation Concepts and Practice

Topic: This article suggests a positive psychology framework to strengthen and broaden psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery thought and practice. Purpose: We inform about positive psychology concepts and measures that can be used to further knowledge, enhance practice, and guide research. Sources Used: Foundational concepts are drawn from the published literature. Specific positive psychology concepts and measures are highlighted: complete mental health, well being, flourishing, positive emotions, flow, self-determination, posttraumatic growth, and resilience. Conclusion and Implications for Practice: Employing a positive psychology framework can advance research on recovery phenomena and be used to assess rehabilitation outcomes. In addition we advocate positive psychology interventions in education and training of service providers that will enhance a positive focus and the culture of recovery.