Character Strengths Interventions: A Field Guide for Practitioners

Ryan M. Niemiec, PsyD, is Education Director of the VIA Institute on Character, a nonprofit organization in Cincinnati, Ohio that is viewed as the global leader in advancing the science and practice of character strengths. Ryan is author of several books, including Mindfulness and Character Strengths: A Practical Guide to Flourishing, and coauthor of Positive Psychology at the Movies; and Movies and Mental Illness. Ryan is an award-winning psychologist, certified coach, international workshop leader, positive psychology "fellow," and is adjunct professor at Xavier University, University of Pennsylvania, and a visiting lecturer at several other institutions. Ryan helps professionals in counseling, coaching, business, disability, and education around the world apply character strengths, personally and professionally in their work. He leads seminal character strengths courses and develops personalized reports for the VIA Institute. He has penned over 60 peer-reviewed/invited articles and hundreds of lay-friendly articles on character strengths, mindfulness, and related topics. He is especially interested in the intersection of character strengths with mindfulness, savoring, resilience, flourishing, intellectual/developmental disability, and health promotion.

Dedication Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Foundations of Strengths-Based Practice: Seven Core Concepts of the Science of Character Chapter 2 Signature Strengths: Research and Practice Chapter 3 Practice Essentials: Six Integration Strategies for a Strengths-Based Practice Chapter 4 Behavioral Traps, Misconceptions, and Strategies Chapter 5 Advanced Issues in Applying Character Strengths Chapter 6 Character Strength Spotlights: 24 Practitioner-Friendly Handouts Chapter 7 How to Apply Character Strengths Interventions Chapter 8 Research-Based Interventions for Character Strengths Chapter 9 Afterword References Appendix A Background on the VIA Classification of Character Strengths and the VIA Survey Appendix B Checklist for Strengths-Based Practitioners Appendix C A Sampling of Strengths-Based Models Appendix D Frequently Asked Questions About Character Strengths Appendix E Comparison of VIA Survey with StrengthsFinder (Gallup) and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Appendix F Flagship Papers on Character Strengths Appendix G 10 Character Strengths Concepts and Applications in Specific Movies Appendix H About the VIA Institute on Character Index