Role of Well‐Being Therapy in Achieving a Balanced and Individualized Path to Optimal Functioning

<jats:sec><jats:label /><jats:p>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. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Key Practitioner Message</jats:title><jats:p> <jats:list list-type="bullet"> <jats:list-item><jats:p>A specific psychotherapeutic strategy, well‐being therapy, for modifying the levels of psychological well‐being has been developed and tested.</jats:p></jats:list-item> <jats:list-item><jats:p>In controlled trials, it has yielded significant benefits in clinical populations, particularly as to vulnerability to affective alterations.</jats:p></jats:list-item> <jats:list-item><jats:p>Well‐being therapy may help in achieving flexibility and balance in psychological dimensions that underlie optimal human functioning.</jats:p></jats:list-item> <jats:list-item><jats:p>Best results are achieved when it is applied to the sub‐acute phase of mood and anxiety disorders, in a sequential model.</jats:p></jats:list-item> <jats:list-item><jats:p>Well‐being therapy may have a preventive role in general populations and particularly in children.</jats:p></jats:list-item></jats:list></jats:p></jats:sec>