Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Resilience and Optimism

In this module, you will learn the definition of resilience and understand the protective factors that make one resilient. You will differentiate between helplessness and mastery orientations, and understand the thinking styles underlying each. You will summarize major outcomes of optimism, and the mediators of those outcomes, as well as assess your own levels of optimism, using a questionnaire. Finally, you will hear about personal and organizational outcomes of optimism, and will be able to apply these concepts to your own life.

Cognitive Approaches to Resilience: Strategies to Increase Optimism and Resilient Thinking

In this module, you will learn about thinking traps and how they undercut resilience. You will learn about five common thinking traps and identify which you are prone to, in addition to the effects of those styles of thinking. You will practice Real-Time Resilience, a strategy to challenge non-resilient thinking. Finally, you will hear about personal and organizational outcomes of optimism, and plan how to apply these concepts to your own life.

Managing Anxiety and Increasing Positive Emotions Like Gratitude

In this module, you will learn the definition of catastrophic thinking and identify the effects it has on physiology, attention and contingency planning. You will experiment with several non-cognitive strategies to decrease anxiety, including Deliberate Breathing. You will be introduced to the Broaden and Build theory of positive emotions, and will be able to describe the effects of positive emotions on resilience. Finally, you will relate research and examples of gratitude to your own life and develop a plan for a gratitude practice.

Leveraging Character Strengths and Strengthening Relationships

In this module, you will identify your own character strengths using a well-validated questionnaire. Next, you will describe how to use your character strengths in stressful situations to increase resilience by creating a buffer of positive emotion. Additionally, you will learn the research on active constructive responding, and identify their predominant responding style with important people in their lives. Finally, you will hear examples of inculcating resilience into organizations, and plan how to incorporate resilience strategies into your personal and professional lives.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches skills that help with personal resilience

Designed for people wanting to handle personal difficulties

Taught by academic who is recognized for their work in resilience

Includes exposure to a variety of coping mechanisms

Topics are highly relevant to managing daily life situations

Offers many examples of resilience in action

Reviews summary

Positive psychology skills: tools for building resilience

learners say this course provides engaging lessons on resilience skills like gratitude, optimism, and thinking traps. Some students feel a lack of coursework materials outside of the video lectures, but reviewers also add that they have been able to effectively apply the knowledge and skills they've learned from the course to their personal and professional lives. The course instructor, Karen Reivich, receives high praise for her teaching style, knowledge, and authenticity.

The course helped students identify and overcome thinking traps.

"I gained the understanding of resilience, optimism, and related concepts. The course teaches valuable knowledge and tools to enhance psychological well-being and adaptability in the face of challenges."

"I truly felt like I was in a classroom learning all the material! I greatly appreciated all of the real-world applications and hearing all of the different perspectives throughout each week and topic!"

"Sound, constructive, well presented. Psychology has come of age and is offering the kind of suggestions about healthy outlook and character building we've yearned for. Congratulations and Thank You."

"It's really very interesting to learn how to make yourself positive not only in our behaviors but also by our thinking with many examples. All these examples helps a lot to make clear the given topics."

Students learned effective gratitude practices.

"This course helped me make great strides forward in therapy in regards to anxiety and communicating within my personal relationships. Thank you. (p.s. Definitely not a dis to my therapist.)"

"I thought this course was excellent. So interesting, well set out and practical exercises to apply to life. Well done Karen. Great job and thank you for creating and sharing this with us."

"The course was really good. I had some idea of mindfulness but the course brought up some refreshing new concepts on resilience and it turned out to be really useful for me. Thank you so much Karen!"

"As always, very impressed with the coursework and the Professors. I will use each topic in my day-to-day life and continue to encourage others too. Thank you for taking the time to create this MOOC. "

Students enjoyed the variety of assignments.

"This course provides very useful and practical skills to improve resilience in our day to day lives."

"This was such an inspiring and life changing experience for me. I feel so much more capable of developing the skills I've learnt and work towards leading a happier, more content life"

"This really helps me with my problem. I have learned many skills that can help me to build a better relationship with the people around me. "

"I really enjoyed this course. It enhanced my personal life and my interactions with others."

The course materials provided were limited.

"I really liked this course, the only thing i didn't like was that the suggested reading is not included in the course and the links take you to amazon to purchase books. "

"I would have loved if the optional readings section included at least excerpts from the recommended selections. By the time I bought and received my optional reading materials, the course was over."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills with these activities:

Refresh key concepts related to resilience

Show steps

This activity can help you strengthen your foundational knowledge of resilience, optimism, and positive psychology, which are core concepts in the course.

Browse courses on Resilience

Show steps

Review your notes or textbooks from previous courses related to psychology, such as positive psychology or well-being.
Take practice quizzes or complete practice problems to test your understanding of key concepts.

Volunteer in a community support organization

Show steps

Volunteer in organizations that provide support services to individuals or communities experiencing stress, trauma, or adversity to gain practical experience in applying resilience-building strategies and fostering well-being.

Show steps

Identify community organizations that provide support services
Contact the organizations and inquire about volunteer opportunities
Commit to a regular volunteering schedule and actively participate in supporting clients

Review research methods for positive psychology

Show steps

Review basic research methods commonly used in the field of positive psychology to familiarize yourself with and enhance understanding of the course materials.

Show steps

Identify primary research methods used in positive psychology, such as surveys, experiments, and qualitative research
Understand the purpose and applications of each research method
Review examples of research studies that have utilized these methods in the field of positive psychology

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Watch tutorials on cognitive resilience strategies

Show steps

There are plenty of video tutorials available online that explain cognitive resilience strategies in detail. These can provide valuable insights and practical tips to help you develop mental agility and optimism.

Browse courses on Optimism

Show steps

Search online for tutorials on cognitive resilience strategies.
Select a reputable source or platform offering high-quality content.
Watch the tutorials and take notes on key strategies.
Practice applying the strategies in your daily life.

Practice Real-Time Resilience exercises

Show steps

Engaging in Real-Time Resilience exercises can significantly enhance your ability to challenge non-resilient thinking patterns. These exercises provide practical tools to improve your focus, emotional regulation, and overall resilience.

Show steps

Learn about the principles of Real-Time Resilience.
Identify common thinking traps that undermine resilience.
Practice challenging non-resilient thoughts using Real-Time Resilience techniques.

Develop a personal resilience plan

Show steps

Create a personalized plan outlining strategies for enhancing resilience, managing stress, and fostering positive emotions, based on the concepts learned in the course.

Show steps

Identify personal strengths and areas for improvement in resilience
Develop specific strategies for coping with stress and challenging situations
Incorporate practices for cultivating positive emotions and gratitude
Create a support system and seek professional help when necessary

Read "Flourish" by Martin Seligman

Show steps

Read Martin Seligman's "Flourish" to gain a comprehensive understanding of the science of well-being and its practical implications for building resilience and living a fulfilling life.

View Tomorrowmind: Thriving at Work with Resilience,... on Amazon

Show steps

Read and summarize key chapters on the PERMA model and well-being interventions
Apply concepts from the book to personal experiences and identify areas for growth

Organize and review course materials

Show steps

Consolidate and review course notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams to improve retention and understanding of the key concepts covered in the course.

Show steps

Organize materials by module or topic
Review and summarize key points from each material
Identify areas for further clarification or study

Career center

Learners who complete Positive Psychology: Resilience Skills will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Therapist

Therapists may use the skills they learn in this course in sessions with clients to help them learn to manage their own mental health and build resilience. Therapists learn a variety of techniques that may help them build rapport with clients, including managing their own anxiety and fostering positive emotions like gratitude. This course can help build a foundation for emotional intelligence and provide strategies for working with a diverse client base.

See salaries and explore the career path for Therapist

Counselor

Counselors may use the skills they learn in this course to help their clients develop personalized strategies for building resilience and promoting mental well-being. This course can be particularly helpful for counselors who work with individuals who have experienced trauma or adversity, as it provides evidence-based techniques for fostering resilience and improving psychological health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Counselor

Social Worker

Social workers may use the skills they learn in this course to help their clients develop strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and improving their overall well-being. This course may be particularly relevant to social workers who work in areas such as mental health, child welfare, or community development, as it provides practical tools and techniques for promoting resilience in diverse populations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Psychologist

Psychologists may use the skills they learn in this course to help their clients develop resilience, manage mental health conditions, and improve their overall well-being. This course may be particularly relevant to psychologists who work in areas such as clinical psychology, counseling psychology, or health psychology, as it provides evidence-based techniques for promoting resilience and improving psychological health.

See salaries and explore the career path for Psychologist

Teacher

Teachers may use the skills they learn in this course to create a positive and supportive learning environment for their students. This course may be particularly relevant to teachers who work with students who have experienced trauma or adversity, as it provides strategies for fostering resilience and promoting mental well-being. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology into their teaching practices, teachers can help their students develop the skills they need to thrive both academically and personally.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

School Counselor

School counselors may use the skills they learn in this course to help students develop resilience, manage stress, and improve their overall well-being. This course may be particularly relevant to school counselors who work with students who have experienced trauma or adversity, as it provides evidence-based techniques for promoting resilience and improving psychological health. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology into their counseling practice, school counselors can help students develop the skills they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Counselor

Life Coach

Life coaches may use the skills they learn in this course to help their clients develop resilience, manage stress, and improve their overall well-being. This course may be particularly relevant to life coaches who work with clients who are facing challenges or transitions, as it provides evidence-based techniques for promoting resilience and improving psychological health. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology into their coaching practice, life coaches can help their clients achieve their goals and live more fulfilling lives.

See salaries and explore the career path for Life Coach

Social Justice Activist

Social justice activists may use the skills they learn in this course to build resilience and promote positive change within their communities. This course may be particularly relevant to social justice activists who work with marginalized or oppressed populations, as it provides evidence-based techniques for coping with stress, building resilience, and inspiring hope. Through this course, social justice activists can develop the skills they need to sustain their commitment to social change and create a more just and equitable world.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Justice Activist

Grief Counselor

Grief counselors may use the skills they learn in this course to help their clients cope with loss and build resilience. This course may be particularly relevant to grief counselors who work with individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one, as it provides evidence-based techniques for promoting resilience and improving psychological health. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology into their counseling practice, grief counselors can help their clients find meaning and purpose in the face of loss.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grief Counselor

Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers may use the skills they learn in this course to create a positive and supportive work environment for their employees. This course may be particularly relevant to human resources managers who work in organizations that are committed to employee well-being, as it provides evidence-based techniques for promoting resilience and improving psychological health. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology into their HR practices, human resources managers can help create a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to succeed.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager

Organizational Psychologist

Organizational psychologists may use the skills they learn in this course to help organizations develop and implement resilience-building programs for their employees. This course may be particularly relevant to organizational psychologists who work with organizations that are committed to employee well-being, as it provides evidence-based techniques for promoting resilience and improving psychological health. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology into their consulting practice, organizational psychologists can help organizations create a positive and supportive work environment that fosters employee resilience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Psychologist

Positive Psychology Researcher

Positive psychology researchers may use the skills they learn in this course to design and conduct research studies on resilience and other positive psychological phenomena. This course may be particularly relevant to positive psychology researchers who are interested in studying the factors that contribute to resilience and developing interventions to promote resilience in individuals and communities. Through this course, positive psychology researchers can develop the skills they need to conduct rigorous and meaningful research that advances the field of positive psychology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Positive Psychology Researcher

Community Organizer

Community organizers may use the skills they learn in this course to build resilience and empower communities to create positive change. This course may be particularly relevant to community organizers who work in underserved or marginalized communities, as it provides evidence-based techniques for promoting resilience and improving psychological health. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology into their community organizing practice, community organizers can help build strong and resilient communities that can overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Spiritual Director

Spiritual directors may use the skills they learn in this course to help their clients develop resilience and find meaning and purpose in their lives. This course may be particularly relevant to spiritual directors who work with individuals who are seeking spiritual growth or who are facing challenges or transitions. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology into their spiritual direction practice, spiritual directors can help their clients connect with their inner strengths and find hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

See salaries and explore the career path for Spiritual Director

Registered Nurse

Registered nurses may use the skills they learn in this course to provide compassionate and supportive care to their patients. This course may be particularly relevant to registered nurses who work in areas such as oncology, palliative care, or hospice, as it provides evidence-based techniques for promoting resilience and improving psychological health. By incorporating the principles of positive psychology into their nursing practice, registered nurses can help their patients cope with illness, find hope, and live their lives to the fullest.

See salaries and explore the career path for Registered Nurse