People Helping People™

Positive Psychology in Human Services

 
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With Support, Incorporated’s increased emphasis on positive behavior supports and desire to establish a thriving corporate culture, positive psychology has been integrated at a number of different levels within the organization. These can be outsourced on request.

 

Clients

 

Positive psychology enhances the quality of positive behavior supports and interventions for many individuals with behavioral challenges through affirming, person-centered interventions. They are a key part of the training of direct support providers in both day and residential services. They include use of flow-based activities, strengths-based interventions and positive affect while communicating and interacting with clients. These facets of positive psychology are then integrated into the Individual Service and Support Plans of the clients, not only reducing problematic behaviors, but increasing overall quality of life. See one of the Behavioral Services Team's success stories.

 

Staff, Host Home Providers and Contractors

 

Positive psychology has also offset much of the negative communicative style and low morale characteristic of human services for staff and contractors. It has been introduced in training and support at several different levels within the organization:

 

Life and/or Professional Coaching Services

 

Coaching services are now available for any interested staff. Appreciative coaching, co-active coaching, resilience theory, various pathology-based or strength-based assessment tools (i.e. VIA Strengths Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory), QOL Therapy, learned optimism and other strengths-based interventions are utilized in the coaching services provided.

 

Appreciative Inquiry (AI)

 

This progressive, strengths-based team building model actualizes perspectives from all stake holders of an organization and has had a vital role in the development of Support Incorporated’s vision and values. In February 2008, Support, Inc. undertook a two day Appreciative Inquiry Summit that re-purposed its mission: providing a vision that is compelling, positive, and absolutely owned by everyone in the organization.

 

The AI process enabled Support, Inc. to go well beyond the typical re-wording and reiteration of organizational values and token objectives characteristic of most team building models. Participants from every level within the organization were able to formulate concrete, tangible objectives for all departments for the next five years. The whole experience was charged with positive energy and every person in the organization felt they made a vital contribution.

 

Direct Support Provider Morale Workshops

 

Support, Inc. also provides opportunities for host home providers to participate in dynamic positive psychology workshops designed to be challenging, thought-provoking and fun. These workshops emphasize overcoming prevailing negative view points on job duties, circumstances and one’s intrinsic ability to change. They do so by enabling the participant to find out what it is that drives their sense of well-being, capitalize on that and find ways to tap into that force on a consistent basis. All of these workshops are undertaken with other host home providers, forming community, support and networking opportunities in the process.