Cultural Diversity from the Perspective of Positive Psychotherapy

In the time of globalisation, one worldwide crisis seems to follow the next one, with Corona being the most recent one of them. In this process, we become more and more aware of how much we are mentally influenced by socio-cultural factors.Yet, at the core of most psychological approaches, culture does not seem to be so much present. It is often rather the individuals functioning or the personal biography that is considered. Here, Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy after Nossrat Peseschkian (1933-2010) takes on a different perspective. It puts culture and the capacities that evolve from it, right to the center of its reasoning.

In the current lecture/workshop, I will present some basic ideas and concepts ofPositive Psychotherapy. We will look at how it appreciates culture in providing models. Models to deal, f.i., with basic questions such as choice of partner, education, or coping with disease. Its perspective on health is dynamic. It includes the capacity to positively engage with the environment. This process can be considered as the capacity to deal with cultural diversity. But what is needed for that? What are the modes of operation? What are the issues concerned? Which attitudes, which mindsets are helpful? How can they be promoted even during a crisis?

For all these questions, Positive Psychotherapy might offer some inspiration and provide some practical advice. Also, it gives ideas on why dealing with cultural diversity might fail. How is this related to personal experience and how one might work on it?

PositivePsychotherapy is a resource-oriented, holistic approach to psychotherapy and counseling. It has psychodynamic roots, and it is strong in being low-threshold and scalable in diverse settings. It is recognized as a professional modality e.g.by the World Council of Psychotherapy.