Attending to the Positive

Abstract This chapter covers the skills of shifting attention toward positive stimuli and improving prospective positive mental imagery. The skills address deficits in anticipation of reward by having clients learn to attribute their actions to positivity. Target attention is vital since the evidence shows that depressed mood and anhedonia are associated with limited sustained attention to positive stimuli. Focus on past experiences is achieved by re-evaluating situations. The skill of finding the silver linings is introduced, but therapists should know this sometimes triggers trauma, panic, and anxiety. The chapter emphasizes that diminishing self-attribution for positive outcomes limits the learning of reward.