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Register Now for North American Sites

The 2010 schedule of Intensives in Europe - to be held in June and July - will be posted soon.  Also, fall intensives are planned in the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. To request e-mail notification, please e-mail Linda Parker at VIA.


CE Credit Available

APA: The VIA Intensive has been reviewed and approved for CE credit for psychologists by the American Psychological Association’s Continuing Education Committee. This program offers 12 CE credits for psychologists. The provider maintains responsibility for the delivery of the program. Approval #08-234.

ICF: The International Coach Federation has approved 12 CCE units (6 in Core Competencies and 6 in Other Skills and Tools).

Delaware Board of Mental Health and Dependency Programs: 12 hours

Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy has approved 12 Core continuing education hours for licensed marriage and family therapists.

Virginia Board of Social Work and Virginia Board of Counseling: 12 hours

VIA is working with other states' MFT and social work boards, as well.

APS: The Australian Psychological Society has endorsed 12 points (CCOM, CCOUN, COP, generalist)

Click here to register.


Learning Objectives

The Intensive is designed to help you:
  • Explain the relationship of character strengths and virtues to basic positive psychology theories, e.g., Seligman's pillars of pleasure/engagement/meaning, Fredrickson's broaden and build theory and Csikszentmihalyi's flow.
  •  Briefly describe each of the 6 virtues.
  •  Briefly describe, with a few words or phrase, each of the 24 character strengths.
  •  Name 2 examples of how character strengths function when in balance and when overplayed.
  •  Describe basic concepts related to character strengths, such as plurality, signature strengths, strength alliances, broad vs narrow use, etc.
  •  Describe 3 evidence-based interventions that enhance awareness and use of character  strengths.
  •  Describe 2 interventions for selected character strengths, e.g., optimism/hope, gratitude, curiosity.
  •  Explain how to effectively identify character strengths in clients.
  •  Describe a 3-step process for engaging in strengths-enhancing conversations with clients.
  •  Explain how knowledge of character strengths can be used to enhance positive social relationships (e.g., families, friends, teams).
  •   Describe the difference between character strengths and talents and one way to assess each (VIA Survey; StrengthsFinder).
  •  Demonstrate an effective approach to reviewing the VIA Interpretive Report (the expanded reports with 5 graphical depictions of character strengths) with a client.
  • Explain the history, development, purpose and conceptual framework of the VIA Character Strengths and Virtues.
  • Explain the interconnection between the VIA Character Strengths and Virtues and the field of positive psychology.
  • List at least 3 examples of research that has been done with the VIA classification of strengths and virtues.

    Tuition and Site Information

    Early bird registration (up to 3 weeks prior to intensive): $495 USD; $445 students
    Standard registration:
    $595 USD; $495 students


    Registration includes:
    • Course manual
    • Consultant code good  for two VIA Interpretive Reports (an $80 value) - one for yourself and one for whomever you like. All participants must take the VIA Survey at www.viasurvey.org and bring your own VIR to the Intensive. Over the two days, we'll engage in many interactive discussions about your own strengths, and provide a protocol and significant practice in using the VIA Interpretive Report with clients.
    • Snacks mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
    Site information:
    All VIA Intensives are held in centrally located hotels or meeting facilities, with convenient access to restaurants, hotels and public transportation. Check the registration page for specific sites, posted as  final arrangements are made.

    Click here to register.

    Questions?
    Want to talk? E-mail Deb Pinger, Executive Director, or Linda Parker, Senior Editor

    Your Instructor

    Ryan M. Niemiec, Psy.D., is the VIA Institute's Education Director. He is co-author of Positive Psychology at the Movies: Using Films to Build Virtues and Character Strengths and Movies and Mental Illness: Using Films to Understand Psychopathology. Dr. Niemiec is a licensed psychologist and has used the VIA Character Strengths in clinical, coaching and consulting work.  More about Ryan.

    Follow Ryan on Twitter

    Straight from the experts

    In exclusive video, created specifically for VIA Intensives. these Positive Psychology  researchers, theorists and practitioners will discuss the most important aspects of character strengths' research and practice. You'll hear from:







    Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi
    David Cooperrider
    Ed Diener
    Jonathan Haidt
    Tayyab Rashid
    Neal Mayerson
    Anthony Grant
    Barbara Fredrickson
    Todd Kashdan
    Robert Biswas-Diener
    Carol Kaufmann
    Donna Mayerson
    Cynthia Pury
    Shelly Gable
    Jennifer Fox-Eades
    Sonja Lyubomirsky