From cosmetics to compassion: A case study of goal focused positive psychotherapy

This case study describes the progress of a client receiving goal focused positive psychotherapy over 34 sessions, capturing the subtlety and responsiveness of the theory in action. The client self-identified as a Mexican American heterosexual female in her early 20s who had experienced intense anxiety and recurring bouts of depression since elementary school. The primary therapeutic principles of goal focused positive psychotherapy- including hope, strengths, virtuous approach goals, incremental change, and culture- are described alongside germane interventions (one good thing, capitalization, and self-compassion). The client experienced reduction of the initial symptoms (anxiety, pessimism and low self-worth, and deficits in time management and organization). Beyond symptom diminishment, the client achieved increased agency, clarity of virtuous values, genuine caring for others, engagement with a broader range of feelings, and self-compassion. The client's cultural strengths served as a central resource for growth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).