title: Role of well-being therapy in achieving a balanced and individualized path to optimal functioning.
abstract: A specific psychotherapeutic strategy for increasing psychological well-being and resilience, well-being therapy (WBT), based on Ryff's conceptual model, has been developed and tested in a number of randomized controlled trials. The findings indicate that flourishing and resilience can be promoted by specific interventions leading to a positive evaluation of one's self, a sense of continued growth and development, the belief that life is purposeful and meaningful, the possession of quality relations with others, the capacity to manage effectively one's life and a sense of self-determination. A decreased vulnerability to depression, mood swings and anxiety has been demonstrated after WBT in high-risk populations. School interventions based on the principles of WBT have been found to yield both promotion of well-being and decrease of distress compared with control groups. The differential technical characteristics and indications of WBT are described, with a special reference to the promotion of an individualized and balanced path to achieve optimal human functioning, avoiding the polarities in positive psychological dimensions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruini
authors.forename: Giovanni A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Fava
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003469:Culture; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009042:Motivation; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055500:Resilience, Psychological; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment