Back ground:

lack of positive interpretation can cause negative impacts such as deteriorating the mental health status of clients suffering from different psychosocial problems. In line with this, positive interpretation has a potential to create a stable mental strength: managing thoughts, regulating emotions, and behaving productively despite our circumstances. The objective of this study is to understand the power of positive interpretation among depression clients to identify and replace inaccurate thoughts.

Method:

This study employed an ethnographic study among 140 clients attending at Erk Mead psychosocial support center. The study was conducted from August 1, 2017 to August 1, 2018. Initially the therapist recorded clients’ personal interpretation of their problem during first round of interviews. Then, the therapist supported the clients to interpret their problem positively and critically observed clients’ change across the five-stage consultation of Positive Psychotherapy(PPT). The five stages include: distancing/observation, Inventory, situational encouragement, verbalization and broadening of goals. Also, clients were requested to re interpret their problem after undergoing PPT.

Result:

During the first round of interview negative thoughts and common thinking errors was observed among clients, among these were all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralizing, filtering out the positive, mind-reading, catastrophizing, emotional reasoning, labeling, fortune-telling, and personalization. Most of the clients explained that positive interpretation created a real value in their life and helped them to identify and build skills that last much longer than a smile. Most of the respondents affirmed that positive interpretation supported them to develop other life skills and gave them increase sense of possibilities. Rrespondents mentioned that positive interpretation supported them to diminish routine stress and boosted their confidence. A significant number of respondents mentioned that positive interpretation ignited their mind to develop new skills and resources. Several respondents explained that positive interpretation enabled them to create a peaceful and balanced life principle across their body, achievement, social contact and spirituality.

Implication:

Positive interpretation can serve as a guide to shape clients’ thought distortions or thinking errors.

Key words: positive interpretation, thoughts