Positive psychotherapy (PPT after Peseschkian, since 1977) is a psychotherapeutic method developed by psychiatrist and psychotherapist Nossrat Peseschkian and his co-workers in Germany beginning in 1968. PPT is a form of humanistic psychodynamic psychotherapy and based on a positive conception of human nature. It is an integrative method that includes humanistic, systemic, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral elements. As of 2024, there are centers and training available in 22 countries. It should not be confused with positive psychology.
Description
Positive psychotherapy (PPT) is a therapeutic approach developed by Nossrat Peseschkian during the 1970s and 1980s.Peseschkian N. Schatten auf der Sonnenuhr: Erziehung, Selbsthilfe, Psychotherapie. Wiesbaden: Verlag Medical Tribune; 1974.Peseschkian N. Positive Psychotherapie. Theorie und Praxis einer neuen Methode. Frankfurt: Fischer; 1977.Peseschkian N. Positive Psychotherapy. Theory and practice of a new method. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag; 1987. (first German edition in 1977) Initially known as "differentiational analysis", it was later renamed as positive psychotherapy when Peseschkian published his work in 1977, which was subsequently translated into English in 1987. The term "positive" or "positivus" (from Latin) in PPT refers to the actual, real, and concrete aspects of human experiences.
The primary objective of positive psychotherapy and its practitioners is to assist patients and clients in recognizing and cultivating their abilities, strengths, resources, and potentials. This approach combines elements from various modalities of psychotherapy, including a humanistic perspective on human nature and therapeutic alliance, a psychodynamic understanding of mental and psychosomatic disorders, a systemic approach that considers family, culture, work, and environment, as well as a practical, self-help, and a goal-oriented five-step therapy process that integrates techniques from different therapeutic methods.Henrichs, C., Hum, G. (2020). Positive Psychotherapy and other psychotherapeutic methods. In: Messias E., Peseschkian H., Cagande C. (Editors) Positive Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychology, (pp. 401–408), Springer, Cham (Switzerland). PPT is characterized by its conflict-centered and resource-oriented approach, which draws influence from transcultural observations across more than twenty diverse cultures.Remmers, A. (2020). Theoretical Foundations and Roots of Positive Psychotherapy. In: Messias E., Peseschkian H., Cagande C. (Editors) Positive Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychology, (pp. 297–308), Springer, Cham (Switzerland). Positioned between manualized cognitive behavioral therapy and process-oriented analytical psychotherapy, PPT employs a semi-structured approach to diagnostics, treatment, post-therapeutic self-help, and training.
About the founder
Nossrat Peseschkian, the founder of positive psychotherapy, was a German psychiatrist, neurologist, psychotherapist, and specialist in psychosomatic medicine of Iranian descent. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he drew inspiration from various sources: The prevailing spirit of that era which gave rise to humanistic psychology and its subsequent advancements. Personal interactions with notable and influential psychotherapists and psychiatrists like Viktor Frankl, Jacob L. Moreno, and Heinrich Meng, among others. The humanistic and integrative principles and values of the Baháʼí Faith. The pursuit of an integrative approach, particularly due to the negative experiences of conflicts between psychoanalysts and behavior therapists in Germany during that time. Extensive transcultural observations driven by a quest for a culturally sensitive methodology. Peseschkian is tied to the development of the approach as his life history and personality heavily influenced its creation. Peseschkian was described by his biographer as a "wanderer between two worlds" (Kornbichler T, Peseschkian M. Nossrat Peseschkian: Morgenland – Abendland; Positive Psychotherapie im Dialog der Kulturen. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag; 2003.); his biography was subtitled The East and the West.
According to Peseschkian, the development of positive psychotherapy was motivated by his experience as an Iranian living in Europe beginning in 1954. It made him acutely aware of the differences in behavior, customs, and attitudes between cultures. This awareness began in childhood as he observed how his religious customs as a Bahai differed from those of his Muslim, Christian, and Jewish classmates and teachers. His experiences led him to reflect on the relationships between different religions and people, and to gain an understanding of attitudes as coming from worldviews and family concepts. During his specialty training, Peseschkian witnessed confrontations between different psychiatric, neurological, and psychotherapeutic methods—experiences that taught him the importance of discarding prejudices.
Positive psychotherapy can be traced back to the foundations of humanistic psychology and psychotherapy that were established by Kurt Goldstein, Abraham Maslow, and Carl Rogers. The strong influence of psychoanalysis and its subsequent developments, including Neo-Freudian, psychosomatic, and focus-oriented approaches like Balint's, also shaped Peseschkian's perspective. In response to these divisions, he aspired to construct a metatheory that could bridge the gaps between them. Simultaneously, certain principles of the Bahá'í Faith fascinated and inspired Peseschkian throughout his life. These principles encompassed the harmony between science and religion, the Bahá'í concept of the human being as a "mine rich in gems of inestimable value,"Baha’u’llah. Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah. Wilmette: US Baha’i Publishing Trust; 1990 (pocket-size edition, pp. 259–260). and the vision of a global society embracing cultural diversity. These principles played a significant role in shaping his work and philosophical outlook.
The advancement of positive psychotherapy can be attributed to several factors that have contributed to its development over time. These factors include insights gained from ongoing medical education, experiences acquired through working with patients in psychotherapeutic and psychosomatic practices, interactions with individuals from diverse cultures, religions, and value systems, as well as the diverse and varied nature of psychotherapy methods. These cumulative experiences culminated in the creation of "Differentiational Analysis" in 1969, which subsequently underwent refinement and emerged as positive psychotherapy in 1977. The titles of early books authored by Peseschkian, such as Psychotherapy of Everyday Life (1974) and "In Search of Meaning" (1983), reflect the influence of psychoanalysis and existential schools of psychotherapy on the development of positive psychotherapy.In recent years, some North American authors have published the clinical applications of positive psychology and named it Positive Psychotherapy (Martin E. P. Seligman, Tayyab Rashid, Acacia C. Parks, Positive Psychotherapy. November 2006, American Psychologist, 774–788) [Seligman M, Rashid T, Parks T. Positive psychotherapy. Am Psychol. 2006;61(8):774–88.] Additionally, the title Positive Family Therapy (1980) underscores its parallel growth with systemic family therapy during the 1970s. In total, Peseschkian authored 29 books and numerous articles on this approach, contributing to its extensive literature and dissemination.
Development and history 1970–1980s The 1970s marked an important period in the development and acceptance of positive psychotherapy as we know it today. It served as a turning point when PPT gained wider recognition within the field of psychotherapy. During this time, the foundational principles of PPT began to take shape and were implemented in the treatment of numerous patients and their families. These principles were also subjected to testing and were presented at international lectures, both within and outside of Germany. In this significant era, four out of the five fundamental books of PPT were published. These books include Psychotherapy of Everyday Life (originally published as Schatten auf der Sonnenuhr in 1974), Positive Psychotherapy (originally published in German in 1977), Oriental Stories in Positive Psychotherapy (originally published in German in 1979), and Positive Family Therapy (originally published in German in 1980). Moreover, the 1970s witnessed the establishment of the first postgraduate trainings in PPT, with the creation of a training organization in 1974, which later became the forerunner of the Wiesbaden Academy for Psychotherapy (WIAP). The Medical Chamber of Hesse recognized this training organization in 1979 for psychotherapy residency training. Additionally, the German Association for Positive Psychotherapy was founded in 1977, becoming the world's first national association of positive psychotherapy.
Throughout the 1980s, PPT experienced ongoing development, leading to the release of additional books, such as In Search of Meaning (originally published in German in 1983 and later translated into English in 1985). Collaborative efforts with young colleagues further contributed to the systematization of the PPT method. A significant milestone during this time was the completion of Hamid Peseschkian's dissertationPeseschkian H. (1987). Psycho-soziale Aspekte beim lumbalen Bandscheibenvorfall – Eine orthopädisch-psychosomatische Untersuchung von 100 Patienten. Medizinische Dissertation. Universität Mainz. in 1988, which marked the first dissertation focused exclusively on PPT. Within this dissertation, an important advancement was made in the structuring of the first interview in PPT. A questionnaire specifically designed for this initial interview was introduced and subsequently subjected to a psychodynamic study. In 1988, this questionnaire for the first interview, along with the WIPPFPeseschkian N, Deidenbach H. Wiesbadener Inventar zur Positiven Psychotherapie und Familientherapie WIPPF. Berlin: Springer; 1988. (questionnaire in PPT), was published with minor modifications. This precursor to the later semi-structured psychodynamic first interview was one of the early examples within the field of psychodynamic psychotherapy.
In the 1980s, Peseschkian traveled extensively to deliver PPT seminars in developing countries in Asia and Latin America. Important PPT works were translated into English during this time. Peseschkian also conducted seminars in management training and coaching, generating interest in applying PPT in these fields.
1990–2010 During this period, Peseschkian published his final fundamental work, Psychosomatics and Positive Psychotherapy in 1991 (German version) and later translated into English in 2013. This book introduced a structured and psychodynamic approach to treating various psychological and physical disorders.