Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions? Read on for our responses to the questions people frequently ask
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Who created the Certification in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Program and how long has it been in existence?
The Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) was co-founded in 2011 by Louis Alloro, M. Ed., MAPP and created by Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, MAPP, MCC, ERYT. CAPP officially launched in 2012 in New York City and quickly grew to be a leader in positive psychology-based certification and training for change agents.
With over 1,600 graduates, CAPP has expanded to serve students in the United States, Canada and over 53 countries around the world. The CAPP program is carried out over nine months in online in live sessions. New cohorts begin two to three times per year.
What types of students enter the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Program?
We serve everyone, but CAPP students tend to fall into three broad categories:
1) Change agents who use positive psychology within an organization.
These people are change agents within the companies they work for and want to enhance their skill-set. This includes teachers, managers, directors, executives, sales people, lawyers, assistants, nurses, physical therapists, social workers and many others who interact with, support and lead others.
2) Change agents who use positive psychology as independent contractors or as entrepreneurs.
These people are change agents who work for themselves and use the science to enhance the validity of what they are doing, expand their toolkit, grow their business and have many different topics within PP that they can speak and teach their clients about. This includes coaches, consultants, speakers, trainers, therapists, writers, veterinarians, clergy members, wellness practitioners, chiropractors, hypnotists, holistic healers, fitness professionals, music teachers, tutors and more
3) Change agents who use the program for their own personal growth and development.
These people are passionate about being change agents and know that the first place to start is within themselves. Many of our students identify their life purpose and calling during the course of their CAPP journey, and they begin applying positive psychology to every aspect of their lives. CAPP students find CAPP to be priceless in bringing about transformation at work and in their families, communities and personal lives. To learn more about whether CAPP is right for you and how you can apply your training, book a consultation call with our Director of Change Agent Acceleration.
How many students have graduated from the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP)?
To date, over 1,600 students have gone through the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology Program in over 53 countries.
What are the differences between the MAPP (Masters in Applied Positive Psychology) program and CAPP?
Both the MAPP program and the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) attract thought leaders from diverse fields and change agents who are dedicated to being the change they want to see in the world. Both are high quality, executive education programs that are grounded in rigorous science, and both aim to be at the leading edge of research.
CAPP puts a greater emphasis on the application of positive psychology than MAPP does.
As is more typical of psychology masters programs, MAPP students focus on peer reviewed journal articles and writing papers. CAPP students watch lecture videos, listen to a synthesis of research studies and spend lots of time on experiential application of the science. There is one required textbook, and other reading is optional.
The CAPP curriculum translates hundreds of hours of positive psychology research into an easy to digest format, so that students can learn the tools and focus on applying the science. The original studies are made available for those who want to add in a more academic approach.
CAPP and MAPP are structured differently. CAPP focuses on experiential learning and teaching students a science-backed framework for flourishing (PERMA-V). MAPP is structured as a series of masters level psychology classes that are divided into themes such as research, positive interventions, positive individuals, positive institutions, etc.
The CAPP program also draws on research from various scientific fields, in addition to positive psychology. The CAPP curriculum includes cognitive neuroscience, mind-body medicine, contemplative practice, nonviolent communication, motivational interviewing, and more.
Some MAPP graduates have chosen to enroll in CAPP, because one of the perks of the program is ongoing access to the curriculum and teaching materials to repurpose for your own personal and professional use. Those who complete both MAPP and CAPP agree that CAPP covers many topics that aren’t necessarily covered in MAPP. For example, MAPP does not cover neuroscience, whereas CAPP dedicates an entire module to neuroscience.
CAPP has been designed for busy change agents and caters to multiple learning styles. CAPP students watch online lecture videos in preparation for weekly, live distance learning classes, where they engage with their classmates about how to put the research into practice, thus training and honing their own positive psychology skills. Instead of writing a capstone article or a master’s thesis, CAPP students complete a final project of their choice that is personally or professionally meaningful to them.
One strength of MAPP is that your professors are the leading researchers in positive psychology today. However, students find that having a few dozen professors is more challenging than having the structure of one facilitator. In the CAPP program, we bring in leading scientists in positive psychology for guest lectures. We have featured researchers including Sonja Lyubomirsky, Todd Kashdan, Robert Emmons, Andrew Newberg, Stephen Post and others. We also focus heavily on how positive psychology is translated into practice in different fields. We also host a Positive Psychology Practitioner webinar series, which frequently includes MAPP and CAPP graduates, in which our students get the opportunity to see how they uniquely translate positive psychology into their work. CAPP students learn firsthand how positive psychology is being used in education, coaching, business, law, writing, with kids, with the elderly and so on.
MAPP and CAPP have different price structures.
The MAPP program is a graduate degree and as such includes the monetary investment and amount of work commensurate with that level. MAPP currently costs over $60,000, not including travel and accommodations. The CAPP program is a fraction of the cost and is also a significantly lower time investment as well. Students can put in as little as five hours a week to meet the minimum requirements or as much as 40 hours a week if they have the time to do the supplementary reading.
Both the CAPP and MAPP programs have robust alumni communities that focus on continuing education to build the skills, knowledge, and camaraderie of change agents working in the world. The only requirement for the CAPP program is curiosity and a deep interest in learning the science of positive psychology (most students come with a burning desire to make a difference in the world), though students do complete a brief (20 minute) application process online and interview prior to registration.
Also, with CAPP you get the advantage of starting their course of study right away. Not only do the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Cohort programs officially begin two to three times a year, students that pay in full early access to the CAPP community teaching platform so they can dive into the curriculum even prior to the CAPP start date.
How can I use CAPP professionally?
What you learn in CAPP can be applied professionally in any industry. Many of our graduates apply it to the work they are already doing by teaching, speaking, coaching, training, creating programs and products based on the science. We support our students in identifying how they can best apply the research and tools in their field. We provide experts from fields such as business, coaching, education, tutoring, parenting, law, writing, health and wellness, yoga, and other fields. We interview Positive Psychology leaders who are applying positive psychology in various industries to learn from them about how this research is being translated.
Our students use their final project as an opportunity to create an application of positive psychology for themselves after they finish the program. Also, once you graduate from the program, you join our community of Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Alumni where you continue to receive monthly support on the application of positive psychology professionally.
Learn more about how our graduates are using their CAPP training.
Do I need a background or a degree in psychology in order to take this program?
No, this program is open to anyone who is interested in learning the science of happiness and well-being, and applying it into their personal and/or professional life.
No prerequisite in psychology is required because we teach you everything that you need to know, and how to interpret the research in science to fit your needs. We guide you every step of the way.
Can I get a copy of the curriculum?
Fill in your information below to get a copy of our curriculum.
Get the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Program outline and syllabus as well as the dates of the next program nearest you by filling out the form below. You can even chat with one of our program managers for a free consultation (optional):
You can also email Jaime ‘JJ’ Weisberg: jj@theflourishingcenter.com, our TFC Change Agent Accelerator to request a copy.
How much does the program cost?
The investment in the program depends on your payment structure and when you register. The Early Bird deadline dates are listed for each Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Location.
Investment options:
- $5,795: Register and pay in full by the Early Bird Discount Deadline
- $6,295: Register and pay in full after the Early Bird Discount
- $6,795: Register after the Early Bird Deadline and choosing the Payment Plan
NOTE: Payment Plans are only available via credit card.
Is there a Refund Policy?
All registrations are final; however, in case of an emergency a person can defer admission to the next scheduled Certificate Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) class that fits their schedule.
What is the time commitment and workload like?
The time commitment and workload of the program consists of the required times that we are in classes. This includes:
- Weekly zoom classes that meet every week for a 2 hour and a 90-minute distance learning call.
- Monthly 90 minute research webinars
- Monthly 60 minute practitioner webinars
Outside of the classroom time students invest about 3-4 hours per week reading, watching the online classes and preparing for the distance learning call.
The program consists of a small amount of required reading and lots of optional reading. We have had some students spend as much as 40 hours a week working on the program and reading all of the optional reading. There is a lot of flexibility. Students can do the bare minimum during the course and do the optional readings after the program. Other students make it a full-time course load by doing all of the optional steps with the progression of the program throughout the six months.
Q. How often does the class meet?
- The Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Program consists of six modules focusing on: Positivity, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Achievement and Vitality (PERMA-V). Each module includes: 1 weekend on site per month, 1 online webinar with a leading PP researcher per month, weekly distance learning courses via Zoom with online videos to watch ahead of time, and 1 monthly call with a different Positive Psychology Practitioner from various industries.
When are the Distance Learning calls and Webinars scheduled?
Each Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) program faculty chooses the dates and times of their distance learning calls. If you are unable to make the distance learning classes with your cohort you may choose to participate in a different cohort’s Distance Learning class.
Research webinars meet the first Wednesday evening of every month. The positive psychology practitioner webinars meet the third Thursday afternoon of every month.
For more information on your program, please email us at info@theflourishingcenter.com and we will tell you the scheduled times.
The distance learning calls are scheduled for one 90-minute call per week and the webinars are two hours once a month.
What is required to receive the certification?
In order to receive the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Certification each student must attend all of the monthly on-sites or make up anything that they missed by watching the recordings.
Students are required to participate in all weekly Distance Learning calls or listen to the recording of a session that they miss. There is one required reading book. Students are also required to complete a brief multiple choice quiz at the end of each module and complete a final project.
What cities is the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) program currently offered in?
The Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Program is available Online Only.
For a complete listing of all upcoming program dates and facilitators, please click here
Our next Online Cohort will launch March 2023.
The Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Online Course process requires interested students to complete and submit an application which will be followed by a personally schedule interview with JJ Weisberg, TFC’s Change Agent Accelerator, to ensure that the program is a right fit for our students and for us.
Click here to apply now!
Feel free to direct any inquiries about Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Virtual to: info@theflourishingcenter.com.
**Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Online is intended for individuals outside of the U.S. and Canada for whom an on site program would be unfeasible.
Who are the speakers and facilitators of the program?
Each program location has its own positive psychology expert as the facilitator and our students get monthly access to a positive psychology luminary who is a researcher in the field of positive psychology, positive psychology practitioners, and Emiliya, the creator of the program. For a complete listing of speaker and teacher bios, click here.
Is the course appropriate towards studies required for a PHD candidacy at my university?
The Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Program is in partnership with Saybrook University. Students can use their Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Certification to receive up to 6 credits towards a Master’s Degree or PhD. For more information contact jj@theflourishingcenter.com.
Additionally, students that are interested in pursuing a career in positive psychology, particularly in higher education or in research, will receive strong theoretical and scientific training in the field that will equip them to excel in their graduate studies. They will have a broad overview of the field and be able to hone their research more specifically.
How do I register for the program?
Registration can be completed through the Locations & Registration page of this website.
If you prefer to pay by check or to register via phone please contact us at info@theflourishingcenter.com or +1(844) 356-8747 ext 708.
What materials are needed?
Upon registering for the program students are given access to our on-line course curriculum, which includes a listing of required and optional reading materials. Please note there is one required textbook.
CEUs and Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP): Does this program offer continuing education units?
The Certificate in Applied Psychology (CAPP) Program is not intended to be a coach certification program. While we cover many coaching tools throughout Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) and have an entire module on coaching psychology, it is not specifically a coach certification program.
Many of our students go into private practice through their training as positive psychology practitioners or positive psychology based coaches, however that depends on the individual’s expertise and skill set.
All of our students learn the scientific underpinnings of many of the tools that they can use to coach their clients, so they feel much more empowered when they work with their clients, because they understand the science behind flourishing and well-being.
Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) is an ICF approved accredited program for existing coaches and offers 36 CCE hours upon graduation, which can be used when applying for ICF Coaching credential renewal.
We also offer a Coaching Skills Training (CST) Program for Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Alumni for students that want a deeper dive into coaching skills. This program is an ACSTH with the ICF and qualifies students for 64-hours of coach training.
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States, with more than 122,500 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants and students as its members.
APA’S 54 divisions are interest groups organized by members. Some represent sub-disciplines of psychology (e.g., experimental, social or clinical) while others focus on topical areas such as aging, ethnic minorities or trauma.
The Flourishing Centre (the Canadian sister company of the US Flourishing Center) is also partnered with The Canadian Positive Psychology Association (CPPA).
Does this course qualify for reimbursement through my company?
A number of students have had their organizations or schools reimburse them for Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) Certification training since it provides the student with comprehensive skills that can benefit the company or enhance the school curriculum.
Check with your organization to learn more about considerations for reimbursement.Q. Can I get tuition assistance or financial aid with the government?
No, this program does not qualify for traditional reimbursement methods through the government. However, in the past, students have found creative ways to fund thier education including Kickstarters, Indiegogo campaigns, grant money from the government and more. Where there’s a will there’s a way.
Does Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) qualify for tuition assistance from the GI Bill?
While Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) doesn’t qualify for the GI Bill, we do offer a $300 discount to all persons who have served in the army or navy. Contact us for details.
Does this program certify me as a coach?
What can I call myself once I complete this program?
CPPA (Canadian Positive Psychology Association) PROGRAM DISCLAIMERS/FAQs:
Disclaimer:
Positive psychology is a topic area within the field of psychology that seeks to provide scientific answers to the question: “What is the good life?” Positive psychology is not a modality for treating psychological disorders. The Canadian Positive Psychology Association (CPPA) offers learning opportunities about positive psychology through educational events such as workshops and conferences. CPPA does not offer psychological services of any kind. Anyone seeking counseling, therapy or other forms of (mental) health services is advised to consult a licensed (mental) health services professional.
Restriction of program credentials:
The Canadian Positive Psychology Association (CPPA) is a registered non-profit organization that was federally incorporated in 2012. We are not a regulatory body and we do not certify, monitor or endorse any member services. Completion of the Certificate in Applied Positive Psychology (CAPP) program does not give practitioners authority to practice psychology in Canada. To practice psychology in Canada, like other health care professionals, psychologists must be licensed. Licensure to practice is granted by regulatory bodies in each Canadian jurisdiction. A summary of what is legally required to practice in Canada can be found here: http://www.cpa.ca/practitioners/practiceregulation/.
Restricted Titles:
Only registered psychologists are legally allowed to use the words ‘psychology’, ‘psychologist’ or ‘psychological’ in their official title. The use of the word psychology is a restricted title in the province of Ontario for example (see: http://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/91p38 ) please refer to the psychology act in your province for proper and legal use of terms in your official title and description of service. In Ontario, for example, you cannot use the title ‘Positive Psychology Coach’ or ‘Positive Psychology Expert’ and you also cannot title your offerings ‘Positive Psychology Coaching’ or ‘Positive Psychology Consulting’. There may be other restrictions as outlined in the Psychology Act of Ontario so we advise you to seek your own legal counsel on this topic. As all psychology acts differ across Canada it is advised that you seek out your eligibility requirements for your province.