Who will you be when you are happy? The experience of happiness in the prevention and treatment of depression

The 'pursuit of happiness' is fundamental to the human condition. However, if it is believed to be conditional upon the successful achievement of other goals, then intrinsic happiness may evade the individual. Moreover unhelpful beliefs about happiness may reinforce, or be a precursor to, depressive episodes. Therapists direct much attention to understanding the client's depression, but in so doing may miss the equally important dimension of happiness which has its own laws and vicissitudes. Helen Street suggests that without a unrealistic understanding of the nature of happiness our clients may be vulnerable to repeated depressive episodes.