Counseling Psychology and Optimal Human Functioning: (Vocational Psychology Series)

Counseling psychology in some form has always been a vital part of promoting good health and preventing mental, physical, and social disorders. The aim of this volume is to focus on how counseling psychology fosters and builds optimal human strength and well-being. The chapters show how counseling psychology plays a major role in helping people make changes at home, at work, and in the community in ways that prevent disease risk and strengthen personal and social resources. Written by leading psychologists, this edited volume will shift away from pathology and illness and move more toward the science of positive psychology. Five major themes - intact personalities, individual assets and strengths, positive mental health, person-environment interaction, and career development - are discussed that serve to unite the roles and tasks of counseling psychology. It will be of value to students and professionals concerned with and working in the mental health field.

Table of Contents:

Contents: W.B. Walsh, Counseling Psychology and Optimal Human Functioning: An Introduction. S. Day, P. Rottinghaus, The Healthy Personality. J.A. Achter, D. Lubinski, Fostering Exceptional Development in Intellectually Talented Populations. F.H. Borgen, L.D. Lindley, Individuality and Optimal Human Functioning: Interests, Self-Efficacy, and Personality. W.B. Walsh, Person-Environment Psychology and Well-Being. F.T.L. Leong, P.T.P. Wong, Optimal Human Functioning From Cross-Cultural Perspectives: Cultural Competence as an Organizing Framework. D.W. Sue, M.G. Constantine, Optimal Human Functioning in People of Color in the United States. C.J. Gelso, S. Woodhouse, Toward a Positive Psychotherapy: Focus on Human Strength. A.H.S. Harris, C.E. Thoresen, Strength-Based Health Psychology: Counseling for Total Human Health. M.L. Savickas, Toward a Taxonomy of Human Strengths: Career Counseling's Contribution to Positive Psychology. P. Frazier, S. Oishi, M. Steger, Assessing Optimal Human Functioning. R.P. Bingham, Fostering Human Strength Through Diversity and Public Policy: A Counseling Psychologists' Perspective. S.J. Lopez, L.M. Edwards, J.L. Magyar-Moe, J.T. Pedrotti, J.A. Ryder, Fulfilling Its Promise: Counseling Psychology's Efforts to Understand and Promote Optimal Human Functioning.

"The book includes several chapters that will be valuable in training counseling psychologists and researchers who are motivated to examine the efficacy of counseling psychology."
—CHOICE