ACTIVELY LEARNING HOW TO PROMOTE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING

Abstract

The awareness of the role Positive Psychology can have on individuals/groups requires that psychology students develop skills to promote aspects like well-being. Aim: To share an educational experience undertaken with first-year master students from an elective course (Health and Leisure Psychology) in which innovative, leisure-based, health-fostering intervention strategies are experienced. Integrated in a broader project, and after assessing online the psychological needs of an adult sample, students proposed and implemented (role-play) part of a group psychological well-being promotion program. The 7 students involved in the continuous assessment chose to focus on Photo Therapy, Crochet, Forest Bathing Therapy, Cinema Therapy, and Art Therapy in order to promote self-acceptance, positive relations with others, and autonomy. The spontaneous feedback from participants and “psychologists” was quite positive, in accordance with the expected results from the intervention (using the 18-item Portuguese version of the Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scales, from Novo et al., 1997).