A growing body of scientific research exists that demonstrates that psychotherapy doesn't make people lastingly happy, that medication doesn't make people lastingly happy and even a combination of psychotherapy and medication doesn't make people lastingly happy.

If you have spent years in psychotherapy, rehashing your past hurts and future fears you are painfully aware of the statement above. You may have found some temporary relief but depression, anxiety, hopelessness and despair creeps back into your life.

The biomedical community would have you believe that your illness is a chemical imbalance and if you take medication all will be well. The traditional psychotherapy community would have you believe that if you resolve your past traumas, your life will become more manageable. Contemporary psychotherapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), would have you believe that if you change your mind, you'll change your mood. And they are all partially correct.

I certainly don't advocate that you throw away your medicine, fire your therapist and just get on with things. That is dangerous and could put you at higher risk. What I do urge you to do is to learn a set of skills that will allow you to build and broaden your satisfaction in life; to learn how to thrive, not just survive.

Positive Psychology can provide that skill set. Many of you have never heard of positive psychology so this article serves as a very elementary introduction. For detailed information on the research behind Positive Psychology, I would recommend the following books:

Learned Optimism by Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

Authentic Happiness by Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D.

Positive Psychology is about figuring out what "the good life" means for you. Three pillars of positive psychology are determining your signature strengths and using those strengths daily, spending more time in "flow" and developing an optimistic explanatory style.

Foremost in importance is recognizing the negative self talk that reinforces a pessimistic view of your life and disputing those thoughts. This sounds like (CBT) and that is one aspect of Positive Psychology.

But Positive Psychology goes much deeper than just disputing pessimistic thoughts. Positive Psychology is a very active process of identifying and accessing your signature strengths, the strengths which embody wisdom, courage, humanity and love, justice, temperance and transcendence (for a list of these strengths, click here.) By using these strengths we build up a reserve so we can handle bad times better and with more resilience.

Flow is an essential tool for optimal functioning. Flow is being in that place where you are fully immersed and challenged to your fullest. What really engages you? For me it is teaching, building wood decks (I have 14 levels in my backyard to prove it!) and quilting. Flow is not compulsive activity or activity that does not adequately stretch your capabilities. Activities that produce flow can change over time (fortunately, or I would have no backyard left for a lawn) if we are no longer pushing the limit of our abilities.

As you can see, a combination of completing challenging and satisfying work, living a demonstrably virtuous life and reinforcing a consistently optimistic explanatory style is a powerful combination for lasting, authentic happiness.

The most exciting part of Positive Psychology is that it does not require years of therapy to craft a life worth living. It is already available to each one of us. Certainly when bad things happen to us we are sad, when we are unsafe we are scared, when we are blocked from something we want we are angry. But all these feeling states, and happiness as well, create the richness of life.

If you are avoiding life, if life has lost its luster, if you feel hopeless for a better life, positive psychology may be the answer. Not many people are naturally cheerful, that is a genetic disposition. However, all of us, even those of us with negative affect (such as brooding or flat in the way you act) can find genuine, lasting happiness.

Positive Psychology is not therapy and does not intend to substitute for therapy. The Positive Psychology skill set is best taught in classroom settings and support groups are often formed for people who use the skills.

Important Note: This article in no way prescribes, directs or encourages the reader to drop out of therapy and/or stop taking medication. Dr. Trussell is not an M.D. and is not offering medical advice. If you are considering changing your medication regimen, you must consult your physician.

Dr. Trussell, although licensed as a Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor and Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, does not provide psychotherapy services. He is an educator, group facilitator and coach. If you are currently being treated for a mental illness, please consult with your physician and psychotherapist about the applicability of enrolling in Positive Psychology activities.