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Date: Thursday, December 17, 2026
Time: 10am - 1:15pm Pacific Time

The Science of Happiness: Research, Myths, and Evidence-Based Strategies

Which factors truly contribute to a happy life? While happiness is often viewed as elusive or tied to favorable circumstances, research in positive psychology, neuroscience, and other fields now suggests that people can intentionally cultivate more happiness in life.

This engaging 3-hour course explores the science of happiness, including how it is defined and measured, what contributes to it, why it matters, and how to do it. Participants will examine evidence-based models and rigorous studies that link greater happiness with physical health, resilience, relationship satisfaction, creativity, productivity, and longevity.

The course highlights practical, research-backed strategies for enhancing key happiness-boosting capacities including social connection, gratitude, mindfulness, generosity, compassion, and awe. Participants will also analyze common misconceptions and barriers that can undermine happiness. By the end of the training, clinicians will have a framework for understanding the key drivers of happiness and a practical toolkit of reliable techniques for enhancing it for themselves, their clients, and their communities.

Format

Live Webinar

Credits

3.0

Instructor

Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph.D.

Price

$ 99

WEBINAR objectives

The Science of Happiness: Research, Myths, and Evidence-Based Strategies

  • Explain two evidence-based strategies for strengthening three key sources of happiness: connection, positivity, and resilience.
  • List three common myths or barriers to happiness in life.
  • Describe research-backed benefits of happiness to health, psychological functioning, and academic/professional success.

Instructor

Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph.D. 

Emiliana Simon-Thomas, Ph.D. is the Science Director at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center (GGSC). She runs the GGSC’s research fellowship program and major research initiatives on topics like gratitude, love, and forgiveness. She teaches the science of happiness widely including open online courses that have enrolled over 1M learners worldwide. Emiliana co-creates multimedia resources for sharing key insights from the latest research as well as practical strategies for enhancing happiness both personally and collectively. She also studies the impact of engaging with happiness-boosting courses, programs, and products for people, interpersonal dynamics, biological processes, and organizational culture and performance. She is a co-editor of the 2017 as well as the forthcoming 2nd edition of the Oxford Handbook of Compassion Science, and author of The Daily Flourish: A Science Backed Journal to Build Positivity, Connection, and Resilience in partnership with Holstee. Emiliana serves as an expert voice on the underlying biology and benefits of prosociality -- our innate sensitivity and motivation to serve each other's welfare -- to lifelong happiness, health, belonging, and meaningful progress towards personal and shared goals.

About this webinar

The webinar is a live, interactive class. You will view the webinar in real time from your home or office on a computer, tablet (e.g., iPad) or phone. You will be able see the speaker and the slides, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions and respond to polls. You will have access to the handouts, which you can view on your computer or download and print.

You will need to show up on time to receive credit, just like at an in-person class, but you can wear whatever you’d like! The class will run from 10am to 1:15pm Pacific Time. There will be a morning and afternoon break and a break for lunch. At the end of the class you will need to take a post-test and receive a score of 75% or above to pass. You have up to three attempts to pass the post-test. Most people pass on their first attempt. After two attempts to pass the post-test you will need to contact our office and you will be provided with one more attempt to pass the post-test. The post-test will only be available at the end of the class. Once you pass the post-test, you will complete an evaluation online and then you will receive your Certificate of Attendance online, which you can view and print.

Cancellation policy

There is a $35.00 processing fee, per seminar, for refunds requested by the Wednesday prior to the weekend of the webinar. After that time, there will be no refunds. If a course must be cancelled due to an unforeseen event (e.g., natural disaster, instructor illness), the webinar will be rescheduled. Participants will be credited to take the rescheduled course or another PPS webinar. No refunds will be given.

Live Webinar FAQs

If two or more people sign-up for the same class, are there any discounts?

No, there are currently no discounts if two or more people sign up for the webinar.

What is your refund and cancellation policy?

There is a $35.00 processing fee, per live webinar, for refunds requested at least 48 hours before the live webinar. After that time there will be no refunds, but credit will be given for a future live webinar.

If we at PPS need to cancel a class at the last minute due to an unforeseen event (e.g., natural disaster, instructor illness), the webinar will be rescheduled. You will be credited to take the rescheduled course or another PPS webinar. No refunds will be given.

If we at PPS need to cancel a class due to low enrollment, your registration fee will be refunded in full or you can take another PPS class.