Division 17 Section on Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is the scientific study of human strengths and virtues. It involves an attempt to move toward a more balanced perspective on human functioning that considers motives, capacities, and human potentials. Counseling Psychology historically and presently continues to be one of the few disciplines that highlights the values of fostering human capacities, satisfaction, and well-being. In some form Counseling Psychology has always been a vital part of promoting good health and preventing disease, including mental, physical, and social disorders for individuals and communities. It is in the context that this Section was formed. The aim of this group is to focus on how Counseling Psychology fosters and builds human strength and well-being and in pursuing this endeavor, furthers the development of positive psychological science and practice. This site includes information about positive psychology research, teaching, and practice as well as events, strengths-based books, and resources.

march 2025

theme: cultural humility

Foronda, C. L., Baptiste, D. L., Pfaff, T., Velez, R., Reinholdt, M., Sanchez, M., & Hudson, K. W. (2018). Cultural competency and cultural humility in simulation-based education: An integrative review. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 15, 42-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2017.09.006 

Gallardo, M. E. (Ed.). (2013). Developing cultural humility: Embracing race, privilege and power. Sage Publications.

Greene-Moton, E., & Minkler, M. (2020). Cultural competence or cultural humility? Moving beyond the debate. Health Promotion Practice, 21(1), 142-145. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524839919884912 

Hook, J. N., Davis, D., Owen, J., & DeBlaere, C. (2017). Cultural humility: Engaging diverse identities in therapy. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000037-000 

Hook, J. N., Davis, D. E., Owen, J., Worthington, E. L., Jr., & Utsey, S. O. (2013). Cultural humility: Measuring openness to culturally diverse clients. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(3), 353–366. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032595 

Hook, J. N., Farrell, J. E., Davis, D. E., DeBlaere, C., Van Tongeren, D. R., & Utsey, S. O. (2016). Cultural humility and racial microaggressions in counseling. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 63(3), 269–277. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000114 

Hook, J. N., Watkins Jr, C. E., Davis, D. E., Owen, J., Van Tongeren, D. R., & Marciana, J. R. (2016). Cultural humility in psychotherapy supervision. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 70(2), 149-166. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2016.70.2.149 

Kibakaya, E. C., & Oyeku, S. O. (2022). Cultural humility: A critical step in achieving health equity. Pediatrics, 149(2), e2021052883. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2021-052883 

Mosher, D. K., Hook, J. N., Captari, L. E., Davis, D. E., DeBlaere, C., & Owen, J. (2017). Cultural humility: A therapeutic framework for engaging diverse clients. Practice Innovations, 2(4), 221–233. https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000055 

Mosher, D. K., Hook, J. N., Farrell, J. E., Watkins Jr, C. E., & Davis, D. E. (2016). Cultural humility. In Handbook of humility (pp. 107-120). Routledge.

February 2025

Theme: Strengths & resilience in honor of black history month

Burt, I., & Tosado, L. A. (2024). A rites of passage counseling group: Black panther as a metaphor of strength and resiliency for young Black males. Professional School Counseling, 28(1a), 2156759X241240947. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X241240947 

Duane, A. (2025). “Showing the good and bad together”: A participatory exploration of strengths and school-based trauma with Black elementary youth. Urban Education, 60(3), 729-760. https://doi.org/10.1177/00420859231175673 

 Erby, A. N., & Jones, C. T. (2024). A mixed methods study of Black/African American counselor wellness. Journal of Counseling & Development, 102(1), 96-106.  https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12498 

Gibson, E. M., Sandifer, M. I. C., Rollins, K., & Osagie-Ekhovbiye, F. (2024). Group counseling for Black male students: A strengths-based approach. Professional School Counseling, 28(1a), 2156759X241234899. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X241234899 

Haidar, A., Kalantzis, M., Nallajerla, M., Vela, A., Adler, S. R., & Burnett-Zeigler, I. (2024). A qualitative examination of perceptions of mindfulness among Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Americans: Implications for cultural adaptation of mindfulness-based interventions. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, 13, 27536130241247074. https://doi.org/10.1177/27536130241247074 

Hasselle, A.J., Howell, K.H. & Gilliam, H.C. (2024). Self-perception among children exposed to family violence: A pilot randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of a strengths-based camp intervention. Child Youth Care Forum 53, 73–94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-023-09744-x 

Kaslow, N. J., Clarke, C., & Hampton‐Anderson, J. N. (2024). Culturally humble and anti‐racist couple and family interventions for African Americans. Family Process, 63(2), 512-526. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12938 

Leath, S., Williams, Y., Quiles, T., Parker, B. C., Mims, L., & Ross, R. (2024). “Free Black children… that means everything”: Black mother’s visions of freedom within a radical healing framework. Journal of Black Psychology, 50(1), 91-130. https://doi.org/10.1177/00957984231221058 

Prasath, P. R., Steen, S., & McVay, K. (2024). A creative strengths-based group counseling intervention for African American Boys. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 19(2), 232-243. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2023.2166184 

Quattlebaum, M., Wilson, D. K., Simmons, T., & Martin, P. P. (2025). Systematic review of family-based interventions integrating cultural and family resilience components to improve Black adolescent health outcomes. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 59(1), kaae079. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaae079 

January 2025

Theme: Meaning in life

Becker, G. (2023). Disrupted lives: How people create meaning in a chaotic world. University of California Press.

Iwasaki, Y., Messina, E. S., & Hopper, T. (2018). The role of leisure in meaning-making and engagement with life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(1), 29-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2017.1374443 

Hirschberger, G. (2018). Collective trauma and the social construction of meaning. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1441. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01441 

Karataş, Z., & Tagay, Ö. (2021). The relationships between resilience of the adults affected by the covid pandemic in Turkey and Covid-19 fear, meaning in life, life satisfaction, intolerance of uncertainty and hope. Personality and Individual Differences, 172, 110592. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110592 

King, L. A., & Hicks, J. A. (2021). The science of meaning in life. Annual Review of Psychology, 72(1), 561-584. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-072420-122921 

Trzebiński, J., Cabański, M., & Czarnecka, J. Z. (2024). Reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic: The influence of meaning in life, life satisfaction, and assumptions on world orderliness and positivity. In Loss and Trauma in the COVID-19 Era (pp. 44-57). Routledge.

Walsh, F. (2020). Loss and resilience in the time of COVID‐19: Meaning making, hope, and transcendence. Family Process, 59(3), 898-911. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12588