Positive Psychology is a scientific theory and, like all theories, it relies on empirical research. AUS follows the Practitioner-Scholar model where practice informs science and science informs practice. Our goal is to sponsor, develop, and initiate research based in science that is applicable to the real world. Ultimately, we strive to better understand how individuals, families, and communities thrive.
Ongoing Group Projects
Positive Psychology Blog [Group Education Project - Open]
Well-Being Challenges [Group Education and Research Project - Open]
Current Group Projects
Well-Being as a Moderator of Perceived Stress among Graduate Students in the Helping Professions [Group Research Project - Manuscript Complete - Closed]
The Strength-Based Clinical Supervision Workbook [Group Book Project - Editing Phase - Closed]
The Trainee Competency Assessment: Measuring Readiness to Begin Clinical Training [Group Research Project - Manuscript in Progress - Closed]
Well-Being through Self-Care Workshop [Group Research Project - Manuscript in Progress - Closed]
Positive Psychology and Positive Sexuality: A Review of the Literature [Group Research Project - Manuscript in Progress - Closed]
Privilege Awareness and Gratitude: A Correlational Study [Group Research Project - Design Phase - Open]
Routine Supervision: An Investigation of Real-World Clinical Supervision Practice [Group Research Project - Data Collected - Open]
Perception of Supervision Processes: A Comparative Study of Supervisors and Trainees [Group Research Project - Data Collected - Open]
Current Dissertations
Flourishing with Chronic Pain [Doctoral Dissertation]
Phenomenology of Island Psychology: A Conceptual Framework for Islanders’ Strengths [Doctoral Dissertation]
The Flourishing Healer: Best Practices for Operationalizing Self-Care Education and Training in Clinical Psychology Training Programs [Doctoral Dissertation]
Mental Health Professional's Trait Mindfulness and Compassion Fatigue When Working with Terminally Ill Clients [Doctoral Dissertation]
Exploring the Definition of Resilience: A Convergent Parallel Study [Doctoral Dissertation]
Recent Publications
Recent Presentations
Heffner. C. L. (2021, January 13). The Fading Affect Bias and The Pleasant Life. Antioch University Seattle. Seattle, WA.
Turner, A. (2020, December 3). Human Sexuality and Positive Psychology. Antioch University Seattle. Seattle, WA.
Blessington, S. (2020, November 18). Gratitude. Antioch University Seattle. Seattle, WA.
Heffner, C. L. (2020). Developing your professional identity as a strengths-based clinical supervisor. Program developed for and presented to Pre-Doctoral Interns and Post-Doctoral Trainees in Health-Service Psychology through the National Psychology Training Consortium [APA CE approved], Renton, WA.
Heffner, C. L. & Cowan, J. (2019). Foundations of effective strengths-based clinical supervision. Program developed for and presented to Swedish Hospitals, Behavioral Health Division. Seattle, WA.
Heffner, C. L. & Cowan, J. (2019). The deliberate practice of effective clinical supervision. Program developed for and presented to supervising psychologists through the National Psychology Training Consortium [APA CE approved], Renton, WA.
Heffner, C. L. & Cowan, J. (2018). Competency-based clinical supervision: Developing a competency-based approach to clinical supervision in primary care health-service psychology. Program developed for and presented to supervising psychologists through the National Psychology Training Consortium [APA CE approved], Renton, WA.