Using Positive Emotions to Manage Stress and

Become More Resilient 

This course provides participants with a comprehensive cutting-edge framework for leveraging positive emotion strategies to significantly enhance resilience and well-being Moving beyond a focus on reducing negative emotions, this training illuminates the novel power of cultivating positive

emotions as a proactive, resource-building approach to mental health. Participants will explore core techniques including positive reappraisal, learning the science behind how to best think of stress differently. The course will differentiate between maladaptive avoidance and adaptive positive distraction, presenting it as a powerful method for replenishing emotional resources. Further, attendees will learn how even positive emotions that seem to have nothing to do with stress, like positive anticipation, can help us

become more resilient. This course offers an actionable evidence-informed toolkit to help attendees and their clients to not just manage stress, but to thrive and build enduring resilience.

Published: September 2026

Format

Online Course

Credits

6.0

Instructor

Christian Waugh Ph.D.

Price

$ 119

Course objectives

Using Positive Emotions to Manage Stress and Become More Resilient 

  • Describe the theoretical framework for how cultivating positive emotions actively builds psychological resources and enhances resilience
  • Explain how to use positive emotion techniques to both reduce negative emotional intensity and amplify positive emotional experiences
  • Articulate two different ways to best use positive reappraisal as a powerful clinical tool to shift emotional states and perspectives
  • Identify strategies for cultivating positive emotions in both normal and unique daily life circumstances

Instructor

Christian Waugh Ph.D.

Christian Waugh Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at Wake Forest University and an expert in the field of emotion regulation and resilience. He received his doctorate in Psychology from the University of Michigan and completed his postdoctoral training at Stanford University. Dr. Waugh's research focuses on how people can effectively regulate their emotions to maintain well-being in the face of stress and adversity. Dr. Waugh has published extensively in top-tier academic journals in experimental psychology, clinical psychology, and neuroscience. He has won awards for his teaching and research and is a fellow of the Association for Psychological Science. His work on the neuroscience of emotion regulation and resilience has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation and has been featured in both academic and popular media outlets. Dr. Waugh is also a renowned public speaker, giving talks at national and international conferences, and hosting professional seminars to communities around the country.

Course Lessons

How It Works

  • View the presentation. Classes are broken into small video segments of less than 30 minutes, so you can come and go as you please.
  • Take the quiz. Answer a few questions after each lesson before you move to the next lesson.
  • Complete the course evaluation.
  • Print your certificate and you're done!

We Make It Easy

  • Handouts from the class are available as PDF files to view or print.
  • Once you've purchased a class, you can view it as many times as you like.
  • Login with your email address and password. It takes you to your personal library/dashboard of all classes you have purchased.
  • Over 90% of professionals report being absolutely satisfied with their online experience!

Levels of Classes

All of our classes are offered at the intermediate level unless otherwise indicated. All classes are designed for experienced mental health professionals.

Test Policy

You need a score of 75% or higher in each lesson/module to move to the next lesson/module. Most people pass on their first attempt. You have up to 3 attempts to pass each module. After 3 failed attempts, you need to contact our office and we will reset the quiz for one more attempt.

Refund Policy

We offer a no-risk guarantee for our online courses. You can view any class for three days, and if not satisfied, contact PPS and we will refund your money in full. This refund offer does not apply if you have completed the class and passed all of the lesson/module quizzes.

Technical Support For On-Demand Courses

Please call 877-777-0668, Monday-Friday from 10 am - 4 pm Pacific Time or email info@psychsem.com.

Questions, Special Needs & Grievances

If you would like additional information, require special accommodations, or have a grievance, please contact Professional Psych Seminars at: toll-free phone: 877-777-0668, phone: 805-371-9443, fax: (805) 371-7443 or email us: info@psychsem.com.

On Demand Course FAQs

How long to I have to complete this class?

There is no time limit. You can take as long as you'd like to complete the class.

Can I sign-up for a class now, even though I don't want to take it for some time in the future?

Yes. Customers often do this when we are running a special, offering you a discounted price.

I lost my certificate. What do I do?

Log in to your account, navigate to the course, and view/print your Certificate.

Do I have to take the entire class at one time or can I stop and come back another time?

You can sign in and out anytime, from any computer, to continue the class. We break our classes into segments of 20 to 30 minutes. You can watch one segment and then come back later. You can even fast forward within a segment.

I am concerned about having to remember everything to take the test. Will this be a problem?

No. We ask you 2 to 3 questions after each 20 to 30 minute video lesson. Answer the questions after each lesson and save your answers. You can come back later and watch another video lesson when you have time. You don't have to remember more than one video lesson at a time. Also, most of our questions are very straight forward. You should have no problem answering them if you've watched the video lesson.

Can you print out the handouts for my on-demand class and send them to me?

No. You can view them online or print them out yourself.

My certificate won’t print. Can you help me?

Hold down the keys Ctrl + P at the same time to access the print screen on your computer.