The D.C. Psychological Wellness Group is continuing the Wellness Lab, our monthly community initiative designed to give groups and individuals evidence-based tools to reduce stress, build resilience, and strengthen well-being.
Each session will focus on a foundation for wellness while addressing different life challenges.
Our upcoming session will explore Positive Intelligence, a science-backed framework developed by Stanford lecturer and coach Shirzad Chamine. This session will be led by Wellness Coach Michael Kaplan, who will guide you in recognizing and overcoming self-sabotaging thought patterns that can limit career success. You can sign up now by registering here.
Why Positive Intelligence?
Though life is known to be unpredictable, one thing is inevitable: setbacks and stressors. This is especially true in periods of career change or professional uncertainty. According to Positive Intelligence (Chamine, 2012), our greatest obstacles often stem not from external circumstances, but from within. Chamine’s research identifies “mental saboteurs,” automatic, self-critical thought patterns that create unnecessary stress and undermine confidence.
By increasing our Positive Intelligence Quotient, the percentage of time our mind works for us rather than against us, we can shift from self-sabotage to self-command. This mental shift strengthens what Chamine calls the “Sage” mindset, the calm and creative part of the brain that allows us to approach challenges with curiosity, empathy, and clarity.
When faced with job loss or a career transition, this is particularly true. This particular kind of uncertainty can heighten stress, negatively impact self-esteem, and, ironically, increase sabotaging tendencies within us right when we need to function at our highest.
According to data from PositiveIntelligence.com, participants who completed their programs reported gains, including:
- 91% improved stress management
- 85% increased happiness
- 84% better conflict management
- 83% improved self-confidence
These findings reinforce how practicing Positive Intelligence can rewire the brain toward positive, solution-focused thinking, especially valuable for those navigating workplace transitions or leadership growth.
What to Expect at the Session
In this interactive Wellness Lab, participants will:
- Identify recurring thought patterns that may be inhibiting personal or professional growth
- Practice simple, neuroscience-based techniques to build mental fitness and emotional control
- Learn how to reframe stressors and setbacks through a positive, solutions-oriented mindset
Michael Kaplan will guide attendees through short, practical exercises and group reflection activities designed to help integrate Positive Intelligence skills into real-world challenges such as job transitions, career plateaus, and workplace stress.
Takeaways for Participants
By the end of the launch, participants will:
- Understand how internal “saboteurs” contribute to stress, self-doubt, and procrastination.
- Strengthen resilience and optimism when facing uncertainty or high-pressure career moments.
- Apply Positive Intelligence to daily life to calm the mind and regain focus.
- Be encouraged to apply some of these practices over the course of 3-4 weeks and share their experiences in a follow-up meeting.
Why Join the Wellness Lab?
The Wellness Lab is about discovering practical ways to stay grounded through life’s changes. While this session will focus on Positive Intelligence, future sessions will explore how we can support well-being across other areas of life.
By blending psychological science, research, and applied practices, the Wellness Lab offers participants tools that are both personal and evidence-based to reach improvement while staying in connection with others who share similar goals, and can help you stay disciplined and as on-task as possible.
Join us for the next Wellness Lab and discover how Positive Intelligence can help you navigate change, ease stress, and build resilience! You can sign up now for this event on November 13th at 1:00 PM by registering here.
References
Chamine, S. (2012). Positive Intelligence: Why Only 20 % of Teams and Individuals Achieve Their True Potential and How You Can Achieve Yours. Greenleaf Book Group Press.
PositiveIntelligence.com. (2025). The Science Behind Positive Intelligence. Retrieved from https://www.positiveintelligence.com/
by Nyla Barzaga on October 24, 2025