Positive Life 1

Exemplary Capstone Project Ideas

In the following pages, you will see three examples of what other MA students did for their Capstone Projects. Notice a few important pieces:

1. Their project ideas align with the three criteria mentioned previously:

a. Your project needs to engage a small group of people.

b. It needs to be related to life coaching and/or positive psychology.

c. It needs to reflect the work you’ve completed in your literature review.

2. The project examples provide details around how they will implement their ideas with a group of people over a period of time. Generally, you need plan on at least two or three weeks during PSY 590 to implement your project.

Example 1: Spiritual Giftedness and a Strengths-based Approach

Provide a detailed description of your Capstone Project.

The implementation of a strengths-based approach to meaning and well-being is a fundamental concept in the world of positive psychology.  Just as God created us with a profile of individual character strengths and values, the Bible also provides a spectrum of spiritual gifts that we are empowered with.  The plan for my capstone creative project is to incorporate many of the evidence-based concepts and interventions of the strengths-based approach and incorporate them into the realm of spiritual gifts and the application of those in our lives.  This is taking the known science and research behind this approach and applying it to a Christian/church context.

I am planning on finding one or two spiritual gifts assessments, and having each individual in the group take them.  We will then discuss our results and talk about what it means.  I then am taking the model of the evidence-based intervention of incorporating your VIA character strengths in a new way each day and inserting the concept of spiritual gifts.  My idea is to have each member of the group identify and incorporate their top spiritual gifts in new ways over the course of a certain time.  Some thoughts have been to find a way to use them to minister to an individual outside the church, and individual inside the church, and also a way to use them as a group to serve the church in some way. 

Explain the timeline that you will need in order to fully implement your project. In other words, how much time is needed from the start of the project to the finish? Detail the actual steps you will take to implement the entire project from start to finish.

I would see this project taking a month to complete.  The first step would be taking the assessment.  Next, we would discuss our results and determine ways to apply the results to our lives.  We would then spend a week or two performing the targeted exercises.  Finally, we would get back together and discuss our results and outcomes and how they affected us, what worked, and what didn’t.

Example 2: Creating Online Meaningful Connections

Provide a detailed description of your Capstone Project.

I would like to create online group meetings for people who are lonely and struggling to have meaningful connections.  The meetings would revolve around meeting new people and having more meaningful connections with people they already know. Since the pandemic I have heard from so many people about how lonely they are.  Several of my friends are single for various reasons and have stated how hard it is to make good connections with people.  After listening to them many say that the dating sites are less than desirable and the people on there are not really looking for meaningful connections. A few acquaintances have stated that they cannot afford to pay to meet people on more reputable social sites.  My female friends have also complained that they would love more female friends to interact with but struggle to get those relationships off of the ground.  After listening to several people, it seems that today’s tech world has caused a shift in socialization and people are struggling with their social skills.  I spoke to 15 people around what they thought of having a group structured coaching event online (Zoom) where they could interact while I mediated the group and they could all share their experiences and goals.  Everyone I spoke to thought this was a great idea.  Many also stated they just do not feel comfortable socializing anymore but really want more meaningful connections in their lives. 

Explain the timeline that you will need in order to fully implement your project. In other words, how much time is needed from the start of the project to the finish? Detail the actual steps you will take to implement the entire project from start to finish.

I will need 4-5 weeks total.  First, I will complete the brochure that introduces the benefits of finding meaningful connections so that I can present it to people who will want to participate in the group.

I will establish a two-hour time period over a three week period for clients to meet in a group setting to support one another while I help each person discover what their goals will be while also challenging them to feel confident enough to step out of the comfort and find new relationship or to interact differently in the relationships that they may already have.

The second meeting will revolve around the participants results from the challenges that they set for themselves and discussing with the group so that everyone can feel supported and not alone.  We will then set another set of goals for the coming week.

Week three will be going back over the previous two weeks and seeing where everyone thinks that they are and what they have learned about themselves and where they confidence level is.  Then I will give opportunity for anyone who feels they need more time or support to continue with me one on one.

I will also survey everyone at the start of the workshop to gage where they think they are in their lives as far as happiness and well-being are and I will administer the survey again after our time together to see if they experienced better relationships and happiness after utilizing a coach.

Example 3: Black Light

Provide a detailed description of your Capstone Project.

My capstone is called “Black Light”, and it is a poetry and journaling workbook that is geared towards helping members of the African American community foster a regular well-being routine in their lives using the concepts of PERMA. The workbook will include writing assignments that reinforce some of the PERMA concepts. I believe that writing is a huge tool in helping to feel seen and heard, as well as a great tool for healing. I have decided to create this with artist in mind because I know a lot, if not all, artists tend to suffer from some type of mental illness such as anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. The use of art is often an outlet for them but once they become professional, that outlet becomes lessened personally and heightened performatively. This activity book is designed to be used over the course of four weeks, with each work starting the new PERMA theme. “Positive emotion”, the first theme in PERMA, will be explored each week, in each chapter. The first week will begin with Engagement and will move forward. In addition to poetry writing assignments, there will also be journaling assignments and an assessment. The book will also include positive quotes from different people in the African American community, who are speaking on inspiration or mental health. The book opens with explanations on what Positive Psychology is, what PERMA is, how to use the book, how to use it even if you don’t write poetry and what to expect to gain from it.

Explain the timeline that you will need in order to fully implement your project. In other words, how much time is needed from the start of the project to the finish? Detail the actual steps you will take to implement the entire project from start to finish.

Participants were informed that they were embarking upon a four-week journey with this project that would require them to do some mental exploration and quite a bit of writing. Those who were still interested received a link to go to the workbook and begin working. The workbook is self-explanatory on each page, and comes with information prior to starting on how to use it and what to expect from it. On Google docs, a form will be created for each of the participants to leave feedback each week, and then the final week, they will be prompted to leave feedback for that week, as well as for the project as whole. The book suggests to participants that they spend two days a week using the book, one day for exploring what the activities are and how to go about them, and then a second day where they complete whatever they didn’t do the first. They will be sent reminders at the start of each week to utilize the workbook and then again at the end of the week to do the survey. They are allowed to submit the survey anonymously if they choose. The final project in the workbook is also to write a letter of gratitude or otherwise expression to the creator of the book, that they will actually turn back in to me at the end of the fourth week.

1.3 Discussion. Peer Feedback on Your Capstone Project

Getting Started

Over the past few courses, you’ve been progressively developing ideas and strategies for your Capstone Project. This discussion will provide a chance to share your ideas and approach and get valuable feedback from your peers.

Sometimes you work so long and hard on a task that you can get tunnel vision. You become so immersed in the ideas and research that it’s hard to be objective about what works, what doesn’t work, and how to make any needed changes. That’s the beauty of peer feedback. As you summarize your Capstone ideas and approach in the discussion, your peers can bring a fresh perspective to your project. They might point out strong points you could build on or question things that are unclear or need to be reconsidered.

The feedback is intended to strengthen your confidence in the project. It’s not only an opportunity to improve your Capstone Project but also an important lesson in learning to accept constructive comments. The ability to accept feedback and work in a collaborative way is an important skill that will serve you well in any career you choose.

So, toward that end, you will summarize your Capstone idea and rationale in your discussion post so you can get valuable feedback from your peers on what changes you may want to make before finalizing your approach.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Incorporate changes to your Capstone Project based upon objective feedback.

Background Information

Before posting a summary of your Capstone Project, review the outlines and instructor feedback you received regarding your Capstone Project in PSY-561 and PSY-562. Then, post a well-crafted response to each of the following discussion prompts. For your peers to give you the most helpful feedback, you will need to be very clear in how you summarize and explain your intended project. The more detailed and clear you are, the more you’ll benefit from this discussion.

Also, keep in mind that your Capstone Project idea needs to meet these three criteria also highlighted in PSY 561:

1. Your project needs to engage a small group of people. 

2. It needs to be related to life coaching and/or positive psychology.

3. It needs to reflect the work you’ve completed in your literature review from PSY-561.

Make note of helpful feedback you receive from peers so you can incorporate any changes as you finalize your Capstone Project approach later in the course.

Instructions

1. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion prompts:

a. Review the document,  Exemplary Capstone Project Ideas (Word document) .

b. Summarize your Capstone Project idea in one substantive paragraph with the Exemplary Capstone Project Ideas in mind. Also, remember that your Capstone Project idea needs to meet these three criteria also highlighted in PSY 561:

i. Your project needs to engage a small group of people. 

ii. It needs to be related to life coaching and/or positive psychology.

iii. It needs to reflect the work you’ve completed in your literature review from PSY-561.

c. Explain who the target audience for your project will be.

d. Explain how you plan to implement your Capstone Project during PSY 590. Typically, your project implementation takes place over a two-to-three week period, but it can extend longer than that. 

e. Discuss the main benefit your target audience will receive from your effort.

f. State the main positive psychology theory or concept that is shaping your idea and implementation.

2. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 to 500 words.

3. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

1.2 Discussion. Learning to Listen as a Coach

Getting Started

Most people think they are good listeners. And because most people already assume they are good listeners, they rarely see a need to improve this vital skill. Granted, it’s easy to think we know how to listen; after all, we routinely engage in conversation every day. But poor listening is the norm. One common example of poor listening is word association responses. To illustrate this, let’s suppose Joe and his coworker Tim are having a casual conversation. Joe says, “I had a rough weekend. My basement flooded and we spent the past two days cleaning up.” Tim responds: “You don’t have to tell me about basements. Our basement flooded last summer, and it was a nightmare.” On the surface, it looks like Tim’s response is appropriate because it picks up on the topic of “basement floods.” But a closer look shows that Joe’s core message was emotional, not situational. Joe was communicating emotion when he said it was a “rough” weekend. He was telling Tim that he felt stressed out. But Tim focused on the flood and the inconvenience of the mess. Not only did Tim miss the emotion in Joe’s message, but he also turned the conversation away from Joe and focused it on himself and his experience. These communication miscues frequently pass as “good communication” between people.

Another common problem associated with listening is the tendency to give advice. When the situation is well understood and advice is asked for, it can be appropriate. But most people are eager to tell others what they think or how their ideas or solutions can fix a given problem. While it is tempting to jump in with suggestions, it takes a lot more skill to help the person arrive at a solution that they discover on their own. Effective listeners understand they should do less talking and problem-solving and, instead, work to draw out the other person’s ideas. Through the use of thoughtful questions and genuine empathy, you can draw a person out toward a solution that feels far more satisfying because they have full ownership of it.

There’s a good reason the first discussion of the course focuses on listening. In the first chapter of your textbook, Becoming a Professional Life Coach, the authors discuss the importance of listening. The authors make it clear that the type of listening that works best for life coaching is not one that focuses on giving advice or problem-solving. Rather, they suggest an approach that carefully listens to a person’s “possibilities, goals, dreams, and aspirations” (p. 6). This is also the emphasis that positive psychology encourages.

Life coaching is also focused on making the client’s needs front and center. To do that, the life coach needs to be attentive to emotional messages. They need to be able to read between the lines so the core message is not missed.

In this discussion, you will have the opportunity to explore what attentive listening entails and how it also incorporates principles of positive psychology.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Explore aspects of active listening as they relate to life coaching and positive psychology.

Background Information

To get the most from this discussion, first, watch the videos and complete the assigned reading. Then do a thoughtful assessment of your actual listening skills based on what you’ve learned. The more honest you are about where you need to grow, the more benefit you will derive from the discussion.

Instructions

1. Read Chapter 1 in your textbook,  Becoming a Professional Life Coach: Lessons from the Institute for Life Coach Training.

2. Watch the video "Listening Skills" (3:32):   (new tab)

3. Watch the video "People Skills: Coaching on the Job" (14:45):

4. discussion topic and respond to the following discussion prompts:

a. The majority of people assess themselves as “good listeners.” But research has shown that most of us tend to overestimate the effectiveness of our listening skills. Why do you think we tend to overestimate our actual listening abilities?

b. In the video “Listening Skills,” there are several suggestions on how to listen more effectively. Which of these suggestions represents a skill you need to work on? Explain.

c. What specific listening skills do you need to keep your coaching conversations focused on “possibilities, goals, dreams, and aspirations”? Be specific.

d. How does positive psychology reinforce listening to another person that focuses on “possibilities, goals, dreams, and aspirations”? Provide at least one concept from positive psychology that supports that approach.

5. Your initial post:

a. Should be between 400 to 500 words.

6. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.

c. Provide clarification to classmates' questions and provide insight into the discussion.

d. Be posted on three different days during the workshop.

Exemplary Capstone Project Ideas

In the following pages, you will see three examples of what other MA students did for their Capstone Projects. Notice a few important pieces:

1. Their project ideas align with the three criteria mentioned previously:

a. Your project needs to engage a small group of people.

b. It needs to be related to life coaching and/or positive psychology.

c. It needs to reflect the work you’ve completed in your literature review.

2. The project examples provide details around how they will implement their ideas with a group of people over a period of time. Generally, you need plan on at least two or three weeks during PSY 590 to implement your project.

Example 1: Spiritual Giftedness and a Strengths-based Approach

Provide a detailed description of your Capstone Project.

The implementation of a strengths-based approach to meaning and well-being is a fundamental concept in the world of positive psychology.  Just as God created us with a profile of individual character strengths and values, the Bible also provides a spectrum of spiritual gifts that we are empowered with.  The plan for my capstone creative project is to incorporate many of the evidence-based concepts and interventions of the strengths-based approach and incorporate them into the realm of spiritual gifts and the application of those in our lives.  This is taking the known science and research behind this approach and applying it to a Christian/church context.

I am planning on finding one or two spiritual gifts assessments, and having each individual in the group take them.  We will then discuss our results and talk about what it means.  I then am taking the model of the evidence-based intervention of incorporating your VIA character strengths in a new way each day and inserting the concept of spiritual gifts.  My idea is to have each member of the group identify and incorporate their top spiritual gifts in new ways over the course of a certain time.  Some thoughts have been to find a way to use them to minister to an individual outside the church, and individual inside the church, and also a way to use them as a group to serve the church in some way. 

Explain the timeline that you will need in order to fully implement your project. In other words, how much time is needed from the start of the project to the finish? Detail the actual steps you will take to implement the entire project from start to finish.

I would see this project taking a month to complete.  The first step would be taking the assessment.  Next, we would discuss our results and determine ways to apply the results to our lives.  We would then spend a week or two performing the targeted exercises.  Finally, we would get back together and discuss our results and outcomes and how they affected us, what worked, and what didn’t.

Example 2: Creating Online Meaningful Connections

Provide a detailed description of your Capstone Project.

I would like to create online group meetings for people who are lonely and struggling to have meaningful connections.  The meetings would revolve around meeting new people and having more meaningful connections with people they already know. Since the pandemic I have heard from so many people about how lonely they are.  Several of my friends are single for various reasons and have stated how hard it is to make good connections with people.  After listening to them many say that the dating sites are less than desirable and the people on there are not really looking for meaningful connections. A few acquaintances have stated that they cannot afford to pay to meet people on more reputable social sites.  My female friends have also complained that they would love more female friends to interact with but struggle to get those relationships off of the ground.  After listening to several people, it seems that today’s tech world has caused a shift in socialization and people are struggling with their social skills.  I spoke to 15 people around what they thought of having a group structured coaching event online (Zoom) where they could interact while I mediated the group and they could all share their experiences and goals.  Everyone I spoke to thought this was a great idea.  Many also stated they just do not feel comfortable socializing anymore but really want more meaningful connections in their lives. 

Explain the timeline that you will need in order to fully implement your project. In other words, how much time is needed from the start of the project to the finish? Detail the actual steps you will take to implement the entire project from start to finish.

I will need 4-5 weeks total.  First, I will complete the brochure that introduces the benefits of finding meaningful connections so that I can present it to people who will want to participate in the group.

I will establish a two-hour time period over a three week period for clients to meet in a group setting to support one another while I help each person discover what their goals will be while also challenging them to feel confident enough to step out of the comfort and find new relationship or to interact differently in the relationships that they may already have.

The second meeting will revolve around the participants results from the challenges that they set for themselves and discussing with the group so that everyone can feel supported and not alone.  We will then set another set of goals for the coming week.

Week three will be going back over the previous two weeks and seeing where everyone thinks that they are and what they have learned about themselves and where they confidence level is.  Then I will give opportunity for anyone who feels they need more time or support to continue with me one on one.

I will also survey everyone at the start of the workshop to gage where they think they are in their lives as far as happiness and well-being are and I will administer the survey again after our time together to see if they experienced better relationships and happiness after utilizing a coach.

Example 3: Black Light

Provide a detailed description of your Capstone Project.

My capstone is called “Black Light”, and it is a poetry and journaling workbook that is geared towards helping members of the African American community foster a regular well-being routine in their lives using the concepts of PERMA. The workbook will include writing assignments that reinforce some of the PERMA concepts. I believe that writing is a huge tool in helping to feel seen and heard, as well as a great tool for healing. I have decided to create this with artist in mind because I know a lot, if not all, artists tend to suffer from some type of mental illness such as anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. The use of art is often an outlet for them but once they become professional, that outlet becomes lessened personally and heightened performatively. This activity book is designed to be used over the course of four weeks, with each work starting the new PERMA theme. “Positive emotion”, the first theme in PERMA, will be explored each week, in each chapter. The first week will begin with Engagement and will move forward. In addition to poetry writing assignments, there will also be journaling assignments and an assessment. The book will also include positive quotes from different people in the African American community, who are speaking on inspiration or mental health. The book opens with explanations on what Positive Psychology is, what PERMA is, how to use the book, how to use it even if you don’t write poetry and what to expect to gain from it.

Explain the timeline that you will need in order to fully implement your project. In other words, how much time is needed from the start of the project to the finish? Detail the actual steps you will take to implement the entire project from start to finish.

Participants were informed that they were embarking upon a four-week journey with this project that would require them to do some mental exploration and quite a bit of writing. Those who were still interested received a link to go to the workbook and begin working. The workbook is self-explanatory on each page, and comes with information prior to starting on how to use it and what to expect from it. On Google docs, a form will be created for each of the participants to leave feedback each week, and then the final week, they will be prompted to leave feedback for that week, as well as for the project as whole. The book suggests to participants that they spend two days a week using the book, one day for exploring what the activities are and how to go about them, and then a second day where they complete whatever they didn’t do the first. They will be sent reminders at the start of each week to utilize the workbook and then again at the end of the week to do the survey. They are allowed to submit the survey anonymously if they choose. The final project in the workbook is also to write a letter of gratitude or otherwise expression to the creator of the book, that they will actually turn back in to me at the end of the fourth week.