Actions Toward Feeling Better

Abstract This chapter discusses the importance of monitoring one’s daily activity and mood. It introduces the concept of positive activities, which will help clients appreciate the direct link between their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Engaging in positive activities is expected to produce a positive mood cycle and an upward spiral. Because reactivation of positive behaviors is thought to be effective in treating depression, the focus of Positive Affect Treatment (PAT) is on activities that are likely to generate positive emotions. Additionally, memory specificity training will help prevent clients from dismissing positive activities as irrelevant or unimportant. By monitoring their activities, clients will be able to identify which daily activities improve their mood.