What drew you to study the Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing?
“Every Monday in the team meeting, they talked about how they were going to use their strengths in their work that week, and it piqued my curiosity!”
I had been keen to do the Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing since I became aware of it about seven years ago. Finding the space, time, and funds was the challenge! I wanted to do the face-to-face course after two years of online learning and closed borders (being Perth based), so I was excited that all the stars aligned (and the borders opened), allowing me to attend the Byron based face-to-face course in May 2022. I knew the facilitator and her work as she’d done a strengths-based workshop with a team I joined just after the workshop (unfortunately).
I spent the years prior to the course studying and becoming accredited in things like mediation (NMAS), coaching (ICF), mental health first aid, design thinking and PROSCI change management, so the Graduate Diploma of Positive Psychology was complimentary to all of that as well as my day to day work coaching executives, leaders and those considering a career change and running a human resources consulting company focussed on “doing HR differently” in a modern and motivating way.
I was interested in building on everything I already had or had learnt and applying it in my coaching, leadership, and people and culture focussed work. For me, it was also to have a point of difference in a crowded market. The Diploma level takes dedication, and not many people in Perth in HR or Coaching have the qualification.
How was your experience studying this course?
“There are definitely a few activities that stand out from the six days face to face – the hand activity was a game changer for me, and I got a lot from the forgiveness activity too.”
We had such a nice mix of people from across the world in our course who had a variety of professional and personal backgrounds. The activity where the facilitator made you go with your 3rd favourite strength was hilarious – but I can’t give too much away in case potential students are reading this!
It was interesting that different activities resonated for different people – some people loved activities that I found so-so and vice versa.
The most challenging aspect was the homework – I just didn’t realise that there was going to be so much. A big tip is to do as much as possible of it in the evenings after the course – which is challenging because you’re either tired or want to socialise with your new friends. Still, it keeps it fresh in your mind and makes completing the homework assessments SO much more manageable.
Was the course what I expected? I went in with minimal expectations, so they were definitely exceeded. I loved the course overall and would recommend it.
How are you spreading positive ripples in your world?
“We spent January 2023 designing a Team Effectiveness and Leadership Workshop series that we are about to roll out for a client.”
I achieved my Diploma in 2022 and am proud that I completed it once I prioritised the assessments.
I was motivated to study the Diploma because I wanted to integrate the learnings into my personal and professional lives. Having this end goal in mind made the assessments easier – it had been a long time between writing essays for assessment! I am excited about 2023 professionally, as I have partnered with another Diploma graduate in Perth. I’m excited to expose others to the learnings and principles of positive psychology.
We’ve incorporated many positive psychology principles and concepts into the workshop series, such as strengths assessments and personal values. We are going to end the series of four workshops using the hand activity – I can’t wait to see if the improved awareness, cohesion and communication they’ve hopefully developed along the series of workshops help them to succeed and work effectively as a team at this point!
I try to incorporate the learnings into my interactions with people and my personal practices wherever possible. Some things in the course and the assessments have resonated and stuck with me more than others, and I want to periodically refresh my learning (hence why I signed up for the alum event in March 2023). I’m also keen to see Byron again in warm sunshine instead of La Nina’s grey skies and deluges!