ABSTRACT
Joseph and Murphy (2013a, 2013b) pointed out that person-centred theory and the objectives of the person-centred approach accord with the principles and aims of positive psychology. This follows on from Levitt (2008) which was concerned with ‘bridging’ the person-centred approach and positive psychology. Unlike many other approaches to understanding the human mind, positive psychology is concerned with what defines and contributes to well-being and optimum functioning. In doing this, positive psychologists move away from a disease model of the human mind. Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi (2000: 5) say ‘the aim of positive psychology is to begin to catalyze a change in the focus of psychology from preoccupation only with repairing the worst things in life to also building positive qualities’. Joseph states his belief that person-centred personality theory offers the best psychological perspective of the human condition available and that it is a preferable alternative to the medical model for understanding human distress (see Joseph and Worsley 2005: i).
