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Identifying Factors that Hinder Well-being

Happiness Positive psychology has often been criticized for differentiating itself from “psychology as usual”
by predominantly focusing on the positive side of human experiences (Held, 2004). Initially,
Exercise this focus on the positive side of life was introduced as a necessary step to counterbalance the
20-40 min. traditional negative focus that was characteristic of the field of psychology. However, this narrow-
minded focus on positive experiences, traits, thoughts and emotions carries an implicit message
Client that people should mainly strive for positive experiences and should avoid negative ones.
No
While “psychology as usual” was criticized by positive psychologists for developing an almost
exclusive focus on fixing problems, positive psychology has been criticized for adopting an
almost exclusive focus on positive experiences. The excessive embrace of the positive can be
conceptualized as “first wave positive psychology.” Second wave positive psychology is more
nuanced in its approach, embracing how both ‘positive‘ and ‘negative’ human experiences can
contribute to overall well-being (Ivtzan, Lomas, Hefferon, & Worth, 2015). Although the primary
focus of this second generation of positive psychology continues to be the enhancement of well-
being, it acknowledges the need to also consider factors that can hinder well-being and positive
growth (Wong, & Tomer, 2011). In this exercise, these factors will be addressed.

Goal

The goal of this exercise is to identify factors that may influence the client’s well-being negatively.
These factors may prevent the client from both living in line with his/her values and achieving
his/her goals.

Advice

■■ Before engaging in problem assessment, the practitioner may decide to identify the
client’s strengths at outset, because the positive focus may create a “buffer” for discussing
obstacles and challenge. However, early in treatment, clients often feel an urgent need to
share their challenges and the precise meaning the challenges have for them. Therefore, it
is important to note that from the client’s perspective, a premature effort to assess strengths
can be perceived as rejection. For this reason, addressing challenges and obstacles first in
some cases works better than addressing strengths first.
■■ In clinical settings, addressing the challenges of clients often precedes the diagnosis of a
client (e.g. depression, anxiety or body dysmorphic disorder). The purpose of this exercise is
not to diagnose clients using negative labels or to define them in terms of their weaknesses,
but to identify factors that need to be addressed in order to successfully increase the client’s
well-being.
■■ Although it is important to address the client’s obstacles and challenges, the practitioner
should create a healthy balance between challenges on the one hand and possibilities,
strengths, and desired outcomes on the other.

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■■ It is advisable to do problem mapping together with the client. For instance, the client talks
while the practitioner draws the picture. Alternatively, the client draws the picture him/
herself while systematically addressing the challenges and their relationships together with
the practitioner.

Suggested Readings

Held, B. S. (2004). The negative side of positive psychology. Journal of Humanistic Psychology,
44, 9–46.

Ivtzan, I., Lomas, T., Hefferon, K., & Worth, P. (2015). Second wave positive psychology:
Embracing the dark side of life. London, UK: Routledge.

Wong, P. T. P., & Tomer, A. (2011). Beyond terror and denial: The positive psychology of death
acceptance. Death Studies, 35, 99-106.

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Tool Description

Instructions

Part 1: Identifying Challenges and Obstacles

What are specific challenges that are getting in the way of your happiness or your ideal life? 1

How long have these challenges been present?

What factors caused or contributed to these challenges in the past?

1
Note that the goal of this question is to identify as many important challenges in the client’s life as possible. In
order to get a full picture of the client’s life, the practitioner may also ask about “drainers” at work, at home, in their
community, and in their own heads. It may be beneficial to use different ways of asking the same question here.

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What factors maintain these challenges or keep them going now?2

2
This question refers to factors that cause a certain challenge to maintain as opposed to factors that originally
caused the challenge. If the initial and maintaining factors are the same, this question can be skipped. In some
cases, however, initial and maintaining factors differ. For example, clients addicted to drinking often begin the
habit in order to secure peer approval as teenagers, only to continue the life-threatening habit as adults because
of physical and psychological dependence. When maintaining causal factors have been identified, the intervention
should address these, rather than the initial causes in order to maximize results.

Part 2: Mapping Problem Interrelations

It is important for the practitioner to discuss the causal relationships between different challenges and obstacles in
order to come up with an efficient and effective treatment or intervention plan. In many cases, a host of challenges
are in fact the result of one or more underlying profound challenge or challenges. For instance, challenges like
marital discord, occasional alcohol abuse and insomnia may be primarily caused by the client’s inability to create
a healthy work/private life balance. By helping the client to establish a healthy balance, the other challenges/
obstacles may alleviated by addressing this “core” problem.

Use the space on page 6 to graphically represent the relationships between the client’s challenges/obstacles. The
following steps may guide help to guide this process (also see Fig. 1: the example of a graphical representation, on
page 5):

1. Take a look at the challenges and obstacles that were identified in Step 1.
2. Using pen and paper, use keywords to describe each challenge and draw a circle around each challenge.
Optionally, draw bigger circles for greater challenges. Make sure to leave sufficient space between the different
circles.
3. Together with the client, take a look at the all the challenges represented by the different circles and try to
identify possible relationships between them.
■■ How do they influence each other?
■■ Is there a causal relationship?
■■ If so, what is it?

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Fig. 1. Example of a graphical representation of the relationship between different challenges

too busy
at work

not enough
time for
kids

drinking feelings
too of
much guilt

feelings
of
fear

fights
with
partner

trouble
sleeping

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Make a graphical representation of the relationship between different challenges:

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Part 3: Evaluation

Take a moment to review your drawing.

What stands out for you? What, if anything, is clearer to you as a result?

What can you learn from the connection between the different challenges?

Which challenge should be addressed first to help you get closer to your goals?

What can you do to meet your first challenge?

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