by Jennifer Hanawald It’s a real dichotomy. On one hand, positive psychology–based coaching is meaningful and connected work. But on the other hand, it can be isolating. Training and client time are rich and interactive, but after certification is over, building a business and developing your skills can be a lonely grind. And coaches know it. In every class I’ve been involved in, whether as student or facilitator, I’ve witnessed calls for collaboration to counteract this challenge. In my experience, the supportive relationships that coaches forge amongst themselves are critical to well-being a ..read more

by Monika Walankiewicz Springtime is right around the corner, and with it comes a renewed sense of enthusiasm and hope for the future. Along with layers of thick clothing and puffy coats, we are ready to shed anything that has been holding us back or dragging us down, and start anew. We feel the need for spring cleaning—a cleansing, if you will. Before creating anything fresh, a slate cleaning is a crucial first step. Think of your life as a spring garden. Each part of this garden represents an area of your life, such as family, health, career, or relationships. Each of those areas needs energ ..read more

In her own words, Linda Wiesinger, an alumni of the Certificate in Wholebeing Positive Psychology (CiWPP), “threw her backpack over the wall.” Way over it—and had to chase it down to fulfill her dream. It was the CiWPP lesson on filling your backpack—a metaphor for packing more positivity and inspired action into your life—that got Linda thinking about what she could be doing to benefit not only herself, but also others around her. She ended up “finding her backpack” in her business Why Not Sprout?!®—a business that blossomed from the vision board she created during her time at CiWPP5. “Why No ..read more

As a certified positive psychologist and practicing therapist, my focus is on how we can translate positive psychology into action methods. My new book, Positive Psychology for Music Professionals, does that for a specific group: music professionals. It’s a guide to how positive psychology and character strengths can be used throughout the music industry to empower, celebrate, and leverage individuality. Cowritten with Raina Murnak, the book grew out of my final project in the Certificate in Wholebeing Positive Psychology. Inspired by the course, I had started singing and dancing again, somet ..read more

Paula Sacco, MBA, CPCC, is a 2018 graduate of the Certificate in Wholebeing Positive Psychology and also holds a certification in professional coaching. She specializes in helping women reinvent themselves after full-time parenting, and her coaching programs guide women to thrive and find happiness. Paula loves building a community of women who transform their lives by focusing on their personal passions and goals. She lives in the Boston area with her family. What inspired you to study with WBI? I had been running my coaching business for about seven years, and I was feeling that I wanted to ..read more

“Every one of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.” —Princess Diana Navigating tough times can be draining, often leaving energy only for essential tasks. However, discovering ways to recharge, foster resilience, and experience personal growth are all within your reach by practicing self-care. Self-care activities act as a beacon in the darkness—just as a single flame can light up an entire space, a couple of positive experiences can transform our overall state. In his book Happier, Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar introduces the term “happiness booste ..read more

Want to learn more about Positive Psychology Coaching? Wholebeing Institute founder Megan McDonough appeared on the STaR Coach podcast to talk about WBI’s Coaching Certification program and our approach to coaching. Listen now to learn more about: ✓ Specific tools that a coach can use to help clients overcome their limiting filters and broaden their perspectives ✓ How coaches can help clients build positive resources over time, to create a lasting upward spiral of positive emotions. ✓ How Positive Psychology Coaching can help clients to identify and engage with their strengths ✓ The import ..read more

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, today’s families were facing rising stress, mental health issues, and overwhelm. Families are desperate for tools and strategies to help them cope with the everyday stressors of family life, parenting, and now juggling work schedules, health scares, and online learning. Now, more than ever, families need to know how to do hard things. During this session, Shawn Fink, a Life Design Coach, will lead you through the 6 Foundations of a Resilient Family. Each of the foundations can be applied to the family unit — parents or children — to help establish resilienc ..read more

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, today’s families were facing rising stress, mental health issues, and overwhelm. Families are desperate for tools and strategies to help them cope with the everyday stressors of family life, parenting, and now juggling work schedules, health scares, and online learning. Now, more than ever, families need to know how to do hard things. During this session, Shawn Fink, a Life Design Coach, will lead you through the 6 Foundations of a Resilient Family. Each of the foundations can be applied to the family unit — parents or children — to help establish resilienc ..read more

The 7 attributes of the strengths-based practitioner Blurb, based on the recently published Frontiers in Psychology paper that she co-authored with Dr. Ryan Niemiec VIA Education Director, group coach and VIA Institute on Character Product & Practice Development Consultant, Ruth Pearce returns to explore the seven attributes of the strengths-based practitioner.  She will share the concepts of embodiment, education, energizing, empowering, exploration, connections and cultivation with the group and also share the case study of the 13 In It Together Coaching co-founders who ..read more