Hope therapy

Research over the past three decades has established that hope is related to positive outcomes. Hope therapy was originally developed to optimize successful goals pursuits by increasing hopeful thought. Here, we briefly review the current state of hope therapy research and offer directions for future investigations. We note that hope therapy has been adapted to be delivered in different formats, by providers from various professional backgrounds, and to participants presenting with a variety of chronic health conditions. We suggest there is a need to reach a consensus about what characterizes hope therapy. Further, we note the need for well-designed trials to test potential mechanisms of change. We believe that these future directions will result in a more efficacious hope therapy that can be widely disseminated.

Automated summary

Research has shown that hope is strongly correlated with positive outcomes. Hope therapy was developed to enhance successful goal pursuits by fostering hopeful thinking. This article reviews the current state of hope therapy research and suggests future directions, including the need for consensus on the characteristics of hope therapy and well-designed trials to investigate mechanisms of change. The authors believe that advancing in these areas will lead to a more effective and widely accessible hope therapy.