The study of wellbeing has produced outstanding research results on resilience and the science of ‘character strength’. The ‘character strength’ refers to the application of optimal strength, according to the situation.  

Positive psychology is designed to balance the problem-focused psychology that has been dominant for decades. It helps achieve rational understanding and offers effective interventions to build resilience and wellbeing in individuals, families, organisations, and communities.  

The Sailboat Metaphor, presented in this masterclass, is a psychological tool designed by Hugo Alberts, a psychologist, researcher, entrepreneur, and professor of psychology at the University of Maastricht. This tool helps to understand various abstract concepts. Once grasped, these concepts guide you toward desired states of mind and the goals of well-being, clarity, control, self-awareness and meaning. 

Individuals who want to: 

• create a sustainable and solid foundation that allows for a more productive, positive and meaningful life with a better sense of direction, clarity and purpose
• explore the positive side of human functioning
• increase their knowledge and experience of positive emotions 
• discover the ideal attitudes that lead to the experience of wellbeing
• explore how to manage their problems and challenges effectively
• learn how to focus on factors that promote well-being
• know how to effectively develop self-awareness
• gain clarity for direction
• maintain an optimistic outlook 

Organisations who want to: 

• create or improve the conditions and processes that contribute to the health, growth and optimal functioning of their employees, teams, and leaders
• improve the organisational culture by promoting employee well-being
• promote the positive functioning of their employees and leaders, to enable them, the teams, and the organisation to thrive.  

Presented as a one-day class, divided into three sessions, covering theory, discussion, and offering practical tools. Sessions topics include: 

• Positive Psychology / The Psychology of Wellbeing - Historical and philosophical foundations of Positive Psychology, its applications, and benefits. 
• Introduction to the Sailboat Metaphor - a powerful, accessible, and intuitive tool, that supports understanding and visualising abstract concepts 
• Observing and adjusting thinking patterns, attitudes, and lifestyle practices to achieve health and wellbeing. This includes the use of personal core values and choices in the pursuit of well-being. 

Camelia Petrus brings a wealth of tools, experience, and perspective to her work in Industrial Organisational Psychology, Leadership, Workplace Behaviour, Non-Violent Communication and Psychology of Wellbeing. 

Camelia’s interests are in employee wellbeing and engagement, leadership key competences and workplace behaviour. She provides employers with psychometric insights in the areas of Leadership Development, Workplace Behaviour, Recruitment, Sales and Customer Service, Client Relationship, Workplace Emotional Climate, and trains HR professionals in test interpretation.  

She is a member of NZ Positive Psychology Association, member of Change Management Institute NZ and partner with OPRA Psychology Group Wellington and the Regional Business Partners Network.

She leads work with individuals and organisations in NZ.