Happiness Coach: Teach yourself to be happy  

In the late 1990s, a new approach to studying how human beings behave emerged as Positive Psychology. Positive psychology pays more attention to positives aspects of human beings’ behavior, such as happiness, hope, well-being, etc. rather than the negative aspects like disorders, stress, anxiety, etc. One of the concepts which had its origin in positive psychology and currently getting a lot of acknowledgment is Happiness coach.

Origin and Definition of a Happiness Coach

Definition

“A happiness coach can be defined as a professional who encourages people to cultivate happiness and well-being in their lives and also promote personal growth and development.”

Origin                              

As we all know, Martin Seligman is regarded as one of pioneers of positive psychology. He introduced the idea of coaching individual skills. Practices of positive psychology to build up their happiness and well-being. Other psychologists too worked in the area of positive psychology. They further expanded the concept of a happiness coach, and began offering the services of happiness coaching to clients. One of the early pioneers of happiness coaching, Seligman, was followed by a former lecturer from Harvard University. Who developed a course called ‘Positive Psychology. Which later became the most popular course in the university’s history. Happiness coaching gained a lot of popularity, acceptance and recognition in the 2000s. The Happiness Project was established later in 2005 by a British psychologist. Author, providing counselling and training to people and organisations to improve their happiness and well-being.

How to Become a Happiness Coach?

Certain certification and training programs are available for individuals who dream of becoming a happiness coach. These courses combine instruction in coaching techniques with knowledge of positive psychology and studies on happiness. The most well-known program is the Certified Happiness Coach program offered by Studies Academy. This program is designed for those who want to become happiness coach as professionals. This program also offers a comprehensive curriculum encompassing a range of topics including positive psychology, coaching skills, and tools and techniques for promoting happiness. Some other popular programs names – International Coach Federation (ICF), Wholebeing Institute

A happiness coach works with clients to identify areas of their lives that may be causing anxiety, stress, depression or unhappiness. Also provide guidance and support to help them develop strategies for improving their overall sense of well-being. They may use a variety of techniques and approaches to help individuals, including positive psychology, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and other evidence-based practices. They work with individuals, couples, or groups, and coaching services in-person or online

Benefits of Working with a Happiness Coach

The benefits of working with a happiness coach and how they can be helpful in dealing with mental health challenges are as follows:

• Enhanced well-being: Happiness coaches provide help individuals discover areas of their lives that may be contributing to stress, anxiety, or dissatisfaction, and work with them to develop strategies to improve their well-being and happiness.
• Boosts positivity: Helping individuals to have a more positive outlook on life, which can boost their quality of life, work performance, and relationships with other people.
• Purpose of having goals: Helping individuals in setting goals and developing strategies or plans to achieve them by providing accountability and support along the way.
• Providing accountability for their personal growth: Helping individuals to identify their weaknesses and strengths. Gives attention to personal growth and development to ultimately bring happiness in life.
• Building coping mechanism: Helping individuals by providing coping strategies for managing stress, depression, and anxiety, and developing a healthier coping mechanism.
• Lifestyle skills: Helping individuals to improve their communication and relationship skills, which can improve their relationships at their home, workplace, and friend circle.

Drawbacks of Working with a happiness coach

Today, there are many different types of happiness coaches offering a wide range of services and approaches to help an individual or groups to improve their mental health and well-being and create more fulfilling lives. They Provide tools and support also to improve individual’s well-being, achieve their goals and lead more fulfilling lives. As there many good points of happiness coaches but there are also some negative aspects to consider, which are as follows.

• Expensive: The cost of happiness coaching can be high, and insurance may not pay for it.
• Lacking of regulation: Cause of the presence of wide range of qualifications and experience levels among coaches, the field is largely unregulated.
• Limited rate of getting successful: Working with a happiness coach can be helpful for some individuals, but may not be effective for everyone. The rate of getting success of coaching may depend on the person’s motivation and willingness to make changes in themselves.
• Lengthy coaching sessions: Working with a happy coach may take a big time commitment because you’ll need to plan frequent, maybe lengthy coaching sessions.
• Becoming Dependent: There is a risk of becoming dependent on a happiness coach, which can overly dependent on external sources for happiness and well-being.

A happiness coach can play an important role in mental health, and healing by providing a non-judgemental space for individuals to work on their personal growth and development. It is also important to take notice of the drawbacks of working with a happiness coach as well as the benefits.

Research background in Happiness Coaching

Many research studies conducted on the benefits of happiness coaching and interventions related to it. Some famous research work names are:

Happiness: In their review article “A Review of Theory and Research,” Ed Diener et al. Discussed the study on happiness and strategies for promoting it.

Positive Psychology Progress-Empirical Validation of Interventions: This study was conducted by Seligman et al. Talks about the usefulness of different interventions of positive psychology.

Positive Psychology Coaching for Increased Well-Being: A case study conducted by Green et al. shows how positive psychology counselling helped people achieve happiness and well-being. The study offers insightful information on the coaching procedure and its outcomes.