Therapeutic change and the experience of joy: Toward a theory of curative processes.

This article builds an argument for a line of psychotherapy research aimed at uncovering the universal curative processes of change that can occur in many different circumstances, not only in psychotherapy. On the basis of theories and findings from psychological research on happiness, the experience of joy is regarded as a core indicator of therapeutic change leading to an increase in intrapsychic resources and life satisfaction. By studying experiences that trigger joy, a number of curative processes can be identified with a high potential for explaining why and how psychotherapy works. Hypothetical links between these curative processes and therapeutic interventions and conditions are explored.