Quality of Life Therapy - by Michael B Frisch (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"This book defines an approach to well-being and positive psychology, that is state-of-the-art, evidence-based, empirically validated, and an outstanding guide for anyone interested in learning about the practice of positive psychology or well-being."
--Ed Diener, the world authority on happiness from the University of Illinois and President of the International Positive Psychology Association.

Endorsed by Christopher Peterson of the University of Michigan and taught in Marty Seligman's Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) Program at the University of Pennsylvania, this book teaches a simple, step-by-step method for putting the fields of well-being and positive psychology into practice. It is a "one-stop shopping" manual with everything you need in one book and with one approach.

This approach to greater happiness, meaning, and success is "evidence-based" and empirically validated. It has been successfully tested in three randomized controlled trials, including two NIH-grant funded trials conducted by James R. Rodrigue and his colleagues at Beth Israel and Harvard Medical Centers in Boston.

Quality of Life Therapy also known as Quality of Life Therapy and Coaching or QOLTC is designed for use by therapists, coaches, organizational change-agents/consultants, and all professionals who work to improve peoples' well-being. Many laypersons and clients have found the book useful as well.

This book explains the "Sweet 16" Recipe for Joy and Success, along with validated interventions for each:

1. Basic Needs or Wealths: Health, Money, Goals-and-Values/Spiritual Life, Self-Esteem

2. Relationships: Love, Friends, Relatives, and Children

3. Occupations-Avocations: Work and Retirement Pursuits, Play, Helping-Service, Learning, Creativity

4. Surroundings: Home, Neighborhood, Community

From the Back Cover

"I heartily recommend Dr. Michael Frisch's book to positive psychology and clinical practitioners of all persuasions. The book presents state-of-the-art findings in positive psychology, brought to life with practical exercises that make the research findings accessible to readers. Frisch's volume can jump-start the work of any practitioner in terms of integrating positive approaches into his or her practice. Accompanying the book is a website Toolkit which provides copies and details of all of the exercises, handouts, and worksheets needed to fully implement the material discussed in the book. This is a valuable resource on its own."
--From the foreword by Ed Diener, University of Illinois' Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Senior Research Scientist, Gallup International Positive Psychology Center

"Frisch's Quality of Life Therapy is psychology at its best--theoretical and practical. The book is fascinating and filled with insights about how to cultivate the good life. Professor Frisch has my gratitude."
--Christopher Peterson, Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

"As psychotherapists, we rarely address issues of happiness, contentment, and quality of life. At last, psychologists like Ed Diener, Martin Seligman, and now Michael Frisch have begun to redress this imbalance. . . . In this book, Michael Frisch proposes an integration of the positive psychology and cognitive therapy perspectives . . . [which] has the potential to enrich both cognitive therapy and positive psychology. Treating negative mood will not automatically lead to happiness and life satisfaction in our patients. Instead the single most important message from this volume is that a new and expanded therapeutic perspective is needed that directly addresses issues of positive affect, life satisfaction, and contentment."
--From the Foreword by David A. Clark, PhD, Professor of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, and Founding Fellow, Academy of Cognitive Therapy

Quality of Life Therapy (QOLT) consists of a comprehensive and science-based approach to positive psychology, clinical practice, and cognitive therapy that serves both clinical and non-clinical clients by helping them learn the theory, tenets, and skills needed to ethically identify, pursue, and fulfill their needs, goals, and wishes in valued areas of life, such as:

• Goals-and-Values and Spiritual Life
• Self-Esteem
• Health
• Relationships
• Work and Retirement
• Play
• Helping
• Learning
• Creativity
• Money and Standard of Living
• Surroundings--Home, Neighborhood, and Community
• Relapse Prevention and Maintenance

Full of case examples and happiness prescriptions, a website containing many clinically tested QOLT skills, handouts, and homework assignments, Quality of Life Therapy gives you a complete resource for implementing this important new area of practice.

Review Quotes

"This book defines an approach to well-being and positive psychology, that is state-of-the-art, evidence-based, empirically validated, and an outstanding guide for anyone interested in learning about the practice of positive psychology or well-being."
-- Ed Diener, the world authority on happiness from the University of Illinois and President of the International Positive Psychology Association.

"This book is the foundation for therapy and coaching in a growing field referred to as positive psychology and wellbeing intervention. Michael Frisch's book provides the reader with an approach to positive psychology/wellbeing interventions that is evidence-based-- tested in three randomized controlled trials, including three NIH- grant funded trials. The book is an outstanding guide for psychotherapists and life coaches."
- M. Joseph Sirgy, Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech and author of The Psychology of Quality of Life: Wellbeing and Positive Mental Health.

About the Author

Michael B. Frisch, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and professor at Baylor University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience.
He is the author of the Quality of Life Inventory, one of the best-validated and most widely used measures in the field, published by NCS/Pearson Assessments. The prestigious International Society recently named him Distinguished Research Fellow for Quality of Life Studies.