Positive Clinical Psychology: An Introduction

This introductory chapter presents an overview of the development of Positive Clinical Psychology (PCP) and the empirical and theoretical evidence as to why the movement is needed. PCP aims to address the separatist criticism of positive psychology and redress any imbalanced focus on either the positive or negative in both positive and clinical psychologies in order to promote a more fully integrative field of psychology. The critical narrative around the positive psychology movement often seems to be dominated by concerns of separatism, with positive research and interventions sometimes seen to be developing in isolation from the wider literature. The chapter also presents an overview of the book in five parts, which includes the argument for PCP, such as developing a positive clinical psychology, personality and individual differences, disorders, positive psychology interventions in clinical practice, and reinterpreting existing therapies.