The workshop draws on research from Positive Psychology and the Values in Action (VIA) Classification of Character Strengths and Virtues, one of the most widely used frameworks for understanding and optimising the use of positive characteristics. The VIA framework identifies 24 character strengths, organised around six broader virtues, and offers an evidence-based approach to understanding how the use of these strengths contributes to wellbeing, effective functioning, relationships and other life domains.
Detailed Description
DATE: Monday 21 June 2027
TIME: 4pm-6pm
PRICE: £40 per person
Online via MS Teams
TARGETED AT: Professionals whose work involves supporting, developing or leading others, including coaches, educators, psychologists, wellbeing practitioners, managers and team leaders, HR and organisational-development professionals, consultants, and those working in community settings. The workshop is also suitable for anyone interested in understanding their own character strengths and learning how to use them more effectively in everyday life.
SPEAKER: Dr Rona Hart, Associate Professor in Applied Positive Psychology, School of Psychology
The workshop draws on research from Positive Psychology and the Values in Action (VIA) Classification of Character Strengths and Virtues, one of the most widely used frameworks for understanding and optimising the use of positive characteristics. The VIA framework identifies 24 character strengths, organised around six broader virtues, and offers an evidence-based approach to understanding how the use of these strengths contributes to wellbeing, effective functioning, relationships and other life domains.
The first part of the workshop introduces the 24 VIA framework. Participants are then guided through the process of strength spotting: learning to recognise and articulate strengths in themselves and others, and to consider how these strengths can be used in practice.
Moving beyond strengths identification, the second part of the workshop explores how strengths are expressed and applied across different situations. Participants will consider how strengths can be underused or overused, and how their use can be optimised and adapted to different contexts.
The final part of the workshop considers how the VIA framework can inform professional practice, when working with clients, colleagues, teams and students in areas such as coaching, education, psychological therapy, management and organisational development.
Through structured exercises, discussion and reflection, participants will:
· Develop an understanding of the VIA framework;
· Identify and reflect on their own characteristic strengths and their use;
· Learn how to optimise and contextualise their use their own strengths.
· Consider practical applications of strengths-based approaches in personal and professional settings.
No previous knowledge of Positive Psychology or the VIA framework is required.
Participants will receive a comprehensive set of ready-to-use materials to support delivery of the workshop, including PowerPoint slides, an eBook introducing the VIA Strengths and Virtues framework, and a set of digital strengths cards.
We will email you the access link to this workshop, and instructions on how to join, few days before the workshop scheduled date. All attendees will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the workshop.
If you are booking for multiple attendees, or on behalf of someone else, please email us at socialchangehub@sussex.ac.uk to let us know the names of the attendees.
For enquiries, please contact us at socialchangehub@sussex.ac.uk.
By purchasing the ticket, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and cancellation policy. Please read out terms and conditions and cancellation policy on Sussex Social Change Hub website.
