Becoming a Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner
Positive Psychology in Professional Practice
Becoming a Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner is an increasingly popular choice these days for both personal and professional development. With its emphasis on wellbeing and character development, the field of Positive Psychology is ever-evolving, offering meaning and purpose to many as they pursue personal, family, and community wellbeing.
This blog post aims to equip you with some basic information to help navigate your search. You might be someone who is looking to train as a Positive Psychology Practitioner or a potential client of one, and we hope the information provided will be helpful as you orient yourself to the field.
Key Definitions
Before addressing ways to become a Positive Psychology Practitioner, it is important to begin with some key definitions that may be helpful in your search for information and subsequent decision-making:
What is Positive Psychology Practice?
According to Jardin et al. (2021), a Positive Psychology Practitioner is a:
“practitioner who has completed requisite training to practise (e.g., psychotherapy, counselling, coaching), and undertaken PP specific training with a reputable training provider, thereby allowing an understanding of the scientific research process and its ethical application in the delivery of applied positive psychology (2021, p9).
What is a Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner?
According to the Positive Psychology Guild (2024), a Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner is:
“someone who applies Positive Psychology in a professional practice using a modality such as coaching, training, facilitation, and research. They are educated on the subject areas of Positive Psychology (e.g. Strengths, Authenticity, Resilience, Positive Emotions, Motivation) and are able to psychoeducate their clients and facilitate positive interventions with their clients in one or more of these areas.
“They should hold at least a UK level 3 qualification in Positive Psychology Practice (or the equivalent) and posses the research skills required to draw on evidence-based client engagement. They should also possess the observation, listening, reflective, and critical thinking skills required for case study work (i.e. needs analysis, case formulation, thematic analysis), and hold a recognised and reputable qualification in their area/s of Positive Psychology Practice (e.g. certificate, diploma, or degree).”
Certifications that prepare graduates to practice Positive Psychology professionally include:
- University PhD in Positive Psychology
- University Masters Degree Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP)
- PPG Accredited Level 7 Diploma / Certificate Applied Positive Psychology Research
- PPG Accredited Level 5 Diploma Positive Psychology Practice (Coaching)
- PPG Accredited Level 5 Diploma Positive Psychology Practice (Training)
- PPG Accredited Level 5 Diploma Positive Psychology Practice (Organisations)
- PPG Accredited Level 5 Diploma Positive Psychology Fundamentals (Research)
- PPG Accredited Level 3 Certificate Positive Psychology Practice
The above list of certifications isn’t exhaustive. The field of practice is ever-growing and new courses appear each year.
Something to consider is whether it is important for a Positive Psychology Practitioner to have graduated from an accredited training programme or not. This in theory increases the likelihood of safe and effective practice, and helps to ensure that the practitioner is working within their scope of practice.
It is also important to know that as yet (in the UK at least), the practice of Positive Psychology is self-regulated. This is similar to the professions of coaching and counselling, which have evolved over decades to provide professional guidance to certified coaches and counsellors.
Professional organisations such as the Positive Psychology Guild (PPG) contribute to the self-regulation of professional practice through the following:
- Professional Guidelines – PPG provides professional guidance on Safe Practice, Positive Psychology Practice, and Strengths-Based Practice (Autism & Neurodiversity) for its Professional Members.
- Register of Practitioners – PPG operates a registered list of Certified Positive Psychology Practitioners and Certified Strengths-Based Practitioners using Positive Psychology-informed approaches. All practitioners on this list are PPG Professional Members.
- Insurance & Liability Coverage – PPG provides its UK-based members with group insurance and liability coverage.
- CPD Learning – PPG provides all of its members with access to CPD learning.
Are there specialised fields of practice?
The Positive Psychology Guild (2024) identifies the following fields of practice:
“Research is a specialised field of practice. A Positive Psychology Research Practitioner is someone who has engaged in and engages in Positive Psychology research using qualitative and/or quantitative methods.
“Training is a specialised field of practice. A Positive Psychology Training Practitioner is someone who educates their clients on Positive Psychology using a strengths-based approach to education and assessment.
“Coaching is a specialised field of practice. A Positive Psychology Coaching Practitioner is someone who supports their client’s personal development using a strengths-based approach to wellbeing and flourishing.
“Facilitation is a specialised field of practice. It may be applied to the facilitation of people, organisations, policy, and research depending on the client’s needs and the practitioner’s skills.
“The above fields are non-clinical. Practitioners work with clients who are deemed functioning in everyday life and do not present complex psychological needs that may require a therapeutic or clinical referral process.”
It should be noted that the above modes of practice fall within the context of educational approaches to client interventions. These approaches differ in objectives to therapeutic interventions, which aim to heal, and clinical interventions, which include a formal diagnosis.
The objective of educational interventions in Positive Psychology Practice is to facilitate a learning process using coaching, training, organisational, or research skills for the purpose of personal, professional, or community development, that emphasises wellbeing and character.
Are there auxiliary fields of practice?
The Positive Psychology Guild (2024) offers the following guidance:
“Yes. An auxiliary field of practice in this context is where a practitioner uses Positive Psychology-informed approaches to engage their clients. For example, a counsellor or coach or trainer might use a strengths-based approach to help a client find their authentic self. If you are working in an auxiliary field, please be clear on your scope of practice and any insurance requirements, and explicit
during contracting that Positive Psychology is one of your approaches.”
What is a Strengths-Based Approach?
The Positive Psychology Guild (2022) defines Strengths-Based approaches as follows:
“Strengths-Based Approaches consider several positive paradigms, which include a person-centred/led approach, always orienting towards hope as opposed to fear. Within these approaches, awareness is always considered alongside acceptance. Inclusion, equality, diversity, and equity are all important themes to be researched, developed, and applied.”
What is a Strengths-Based Practitioner?
The above definition continues with reference to Strengths-Based Autism Practitioners:
“A Strengths-Based Autism Practitioner should hold at least a UK level 3 qualification in Autism or Special Educational Needs (or the equivalent) and posses the research skills required to draw on evidence-based approaches when working with their clients. They should also hold a recognised and reputable qualification in their area/s of Special Educational Needs Practice (e.g. certificate, degree or diploma) and be working in line with current UK national standards and strategies.”
A similar definition applies to Strengths-Based Neurodiversity & Inclusion Practitioners.
The Positive Psychology Guild also bridges the above definitions with Positive Psychology-informed approaches to strengths-based client engagement. For example, client engagement should also consider the themes of authenticity, resilience, and strengths from a wellbeing-centred perspective.
The following certifications prepare graduates to practice Positive Psychology-Informed Strengths-Based Approaches professionally:
- PPG Accredited Level 5 Diploma Autism in Research, Theory & Practice for Managers & Practitioners
- PPG Accredited Level 3 Certificate Neurodiversity & Inclusion (Train the Trainer)
What is “Safe Practice”?
Whether you are planning to train and certify as a Positive Psychology Practitioner, or seeking the services of one, it is important to consider what safe practice means.
According to the Positive Psychology Guild (PPG), “Safe Practice” is built on principles, which “are fundamental rules, guidelines, and building blocks encompassing philosophy modalities in the support of a particular system.” PPG defines the following four principles:
Principle 1: Scope of Practice
Scope of Practice refers to the practitioner’s qualification, competence, experience, and capacity to work with clients within a particular context. It includes:
- The knowledge base that the practitioner is qualified to work from (e.g. Strengths, Authenticity, Resilience, Positive Emotions, Motivation);
- The general and specialised approaches towards working with clients in consideration of a variety of expected outcomes such as supporting growth and development (e.g. psychoeducation, positive interventions, guided reflective practice, coaching, training, facilitation, research);
- The degree of practitioner competence in dealing with mental health, diversity, and neurodiversity issues should they arise, and developing a system to recognise when this falls outside of their scope of practice leading to the need to refer onwards to a competent practitioner.
Scope of Practice understanding is important for the following reasons:
- To communicate the practitioner’s boundaries and the point at which a referral might need to be made should the client’s needs fall outside of the scope of practice. This is an important discussion point during the contracting of clients and it helps to manage expectations.
- The practitioner is reminded where the boundaries of their practice lie for insurance and liability coverage and client decision-making. It is natural for these boundaries to evolve and extend over time as the practitioner engages in further CPD learning and develops more experience in their practice.
Principle 2: Mode of Practice
Mode of Practice refers to modalities used when working with clients (tools, processes) that you are qualified and competent to use during your client engagement. These will fall within your scope of practice and are informed by your philosophy of practice. They will be further supported in use by your reflective practice with regard to their efficacy and timing.
Examples of client modalities include but are not limited to:
- Surveys and questionnaires for client assessment (e.g. strengths, wellbeing)
- Needs analysis and case formulation exercises for client assessment
- Theoretical assumptions to inform or guide client assessment
- Thematic analysis exercises to inform or guide client assessment
- Theoretical frameworks to inform or guide psychoeduction
- Evidence-based Positive Psychology Interventions
- Application of coaching skills and models during client engagement
- Application of training skills and models during client engagement
- Application of facilitation skills and models during client engagement
- Application of research skills and models during client engagement
Mode of Practice is important for the following reasons:
- To communicate to the client that the practitioner is drawing on evidence-based and person-centred approaches towards assessment of the client’s needs and their progress as opposed to reliance on intuition or guesswork. A practitioner might have professional instincts and insights, however these should always be reinforced by objective processes that inform assessment and analysis, and the relevant skills to employ these approaches.
- The practitioner is reminded that they have a standard process for working with clients and are using tools and processes that they have been suitably trained in and are qualified to use through skilful employment. Practitioners must investigate any new modes of practice through further research and/or qualification prior to their application in professional practice, and conduct an evaluation of their safety criteria prior to any client engagement as part of risk assessment.
Principle 3: Philosophy of Practice
Philosophy of Practice describes your ontological positioning and the beliefs and assumptions that inform your style of client engagement. It overlaps with Scope of Practice with regard to knowledge and skills, and may include the following:
- Scientific approach (evidence-based, practitioner guided/led)
- Humanistic approach (person-centred/led, creative, somatic)
It also captures the personal values that inform your practice (e.g. kindness, respect, collaboration, resilience). If you are a Professional Member of the Positive Psychology Guild (PPG), the values supporting your practice should also cover PPG’s 6 Core Values, which are:
- Safety & Wellbeing
- Equality & Diversity
- Authenticity
- Integrity
- Positive Communication
- Energy & Presence
In addition, safe practice is supported through active and reflective listening, and critical thinking.
Philosophy of Practice understanding is important for the following reasons:
- To communicate to the client how the practitioner approaches their client engagement. This may include the knowledge, skills, values, and beliefs that shape their attitude to practice. Being explicit with a client on a philosophy of practice can help to manage expectations and should be discussed during contracting.
- The practitioner is reminded of their motivation to practice and the philosophical assumptions that inform their client engagement. This can help to clarify processes and inform decision-making for contracting, client intake, and client support and development. Like a Scope of Practice, a Philosophy of Practice may evolve over time as the practitioner engages in CPD and gains experience.
Principle 4: Reflective Practice
Reflective Practice describes a continuous process of self-reflection in relation to a subject
or situation. It includes introspection (i.e. looking inwards) and extrospection (i.e. looking outwards)
to better understand oneself and one’s place in the world. This process generates conscious insights
that can inform or direct future decisions, actions, and behaviours, which can support safer practice.
Positive Psychology emphasises reflective practice during training and beyond qualification into practice. It is a core part of working with clients, and takes place outside of the client engagement. It is generally practiced alone (e.g. through contemplation, reading, researching, observing, writing, drawing). It is best practiced when the practitioner is present and attentive. Where a practitioner is struggling to be present and attentive, activities such as mindfulness and physical activity can help to shift the practitioner’s state/s and facilitate presence and attention.
The practitioner may enhance a personal reflective practice with engagement in a Community of Practice or professional supervision. A professional supervisor may be a Positive Psychology Practitioner who is suitably qualified and experienced to offer supervision to support the psychological wellbeing or professional development of the practitioner.
Reflective Practice is important for the following reasons:
- To communicate to the client that the practitioner is committed to observation of self as well as client in their professional practice, and is aware of the importance of tending to their own needs and development as part of an ethical practice.
- The practitioner is more aware of what is happening inside of them (e.g. their thoughts, emotions, feelings, physical sensations) which may help them to better understand and fulfil their needs, and when to seek further support to ensure their own wellbeing is cared for. It is also a modality they can include alongside client psychoeducation in the form of guided reflective practice.
In addition to the above four principles, Safe Practice includes risk assessment and safeguarding. These are essential components of client engagement in Positive Psychology Practice and Strengths-Based Practices informed by Positive Psychology, and should be embedded into professional practice before, during, and after client engagement. To learn more about these areas of safe practice, please download the full Safe Practice guidance document here.
Becoming a Certified Positive Psychology Practitioner
We hope that the above information provides you with useful information to consider as you seek out a training certification programme or certified practitioner.
If you have any questions on the above, please contact: training@ppnetwork.org