Workshop C

Creating a Best Self Toolkit: Learning and Understanding Strategies Based on Positive Psychology Principles for Promoting Being Our Best Selves

Marisol E Lopez, PhD,1 and Carly Block, PhD, CMPC2

1Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics, Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine; 2Counseling and Applied Human Development, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development

Room TBA

Our student and trainee population face many stressors including academic and financial responsibilities, work life balance, and socializing. In addition, faculty members are charged with many teaching, research, clinical, and service responsibilities which can lead to burnout. These challenges may negatively affect how we manage our everyday responsibilities and daily interactions with our colleagues and the audiences we serve. Using positive psychology-based interventions can be a helpful way to navigate these challenges and mitigate potential negative outcomes. Research has shown that medical students and physicians who have utilized these types of interventions have experienced an increase in their overall well-being. While these interventions are helpful, a barrier to implementing these practices is the difficulty finding time in the day for regular implementation. Thus, the purpose of this interactive workshop is to provide you with the background and application of positive psychology principles that can be implemented into regular daily practice.

Target Audience:

Faculty, students, and residents

Learning Objectives:

  • Review theories and evidence of positive psychology.
  • Design an activity using a positive psychology principle.
  • Identify personal strengths and their relevance to the work we do.
  • Learn strategies and access tools to continue developing their toolkit.

Session Outline:

  • Opening Introductions (10 min): The audience will get into small groups to share their thoughts and feeling around happiness. This activity will allow the audience to interact and ignite reflection related to positive psychology.
  • Educational Background on Positive Psychology (15 min): The presenters will provide information on what it is, definitions/concepts, and theories behind this field of psychological study.
  • Strengths-Based Psychoeducation/Reflection (20 min): The audience will be provided a brief-psychoeducation on strengths-based approaches and will have an opportunity to self-reflect on and identify their own strengths.
  • Strengths Activity/Discussion (15 min): In small groups, the audience will share what common challenges they must navigate in their work. After discussion, they will work together and discuss how they can use their strengths to combat or cope with these challenges.
  • Self-Affirmations (10 min): The audience will first learn another strategy to add to their positive psychology toolkit. From there, the audience will participate in a large group activity to practice this strategy.
  • Mindfulness (10 min): The audience will first learn another strategy to add to their positive psychology toolkit. From there, the audience will participate in a large group activity to practice this strategy.
  • Resources/Conclusion (10 min): The workshop will end with the audience being provided additional resources to help them continue to build their skills, utilize their toolkit, and support their overall well-being.