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Gratitude, Spirituality and Meaning: Their Clinical Implications

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Positive Psychology in the Clinical Domains

Abstract

This chapter reports the most recent findings of scientific literature concerning gratitude, spirituality, and meaning and their possible applications in clinical settings. Although these dimensions were found to be protective for individuals’ physical and mental health, they sometimes showed controversial and paradoxical effects. Finally, this chapter briefly describes some of the most recent psychotherapeutic interventions that are based on the above-mentioned transcendental aspects of human functioning and are focused on the importance of the mind-body connections. Among them, Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Meaning-Making Intervention, Naikan Therapy and narrative strategies based on positive psychology research are illustrated.

“The function of prayer is not to influence God,

but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”

Søren Kierkegaard

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Chiara Ruini

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Ruini, C. (2017). Gratitude, Spirituality and Meaning: Their Clinical Implications. In: Positive Psychology in the Clinical Domains. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52112-1_8

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