Positive psychotherapy emerged in 1968 as a novel method created by Nossrat Peseschkian to integrate psychodynamic and behavior-therapeutic principles. Moving from his birthplace of Kashan, Iran, to Germany in 1954, he built an extensive international network of psychiatric centers while authoring twenty-six books that reached readers in twenty-three different languages during his career as a physician and teacher.
Professional Development and Academic Foundation
After relocating to Germany in 1954, Peseschkian pursued medical studies at the universities of Freiburg, Frankfurt am Main, and Mainz. His postgraduate training encompassed clinical work across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and the United States. He eventually established the Wiesbaden Academy of Psychotherapy, a state-licensed institute designed for advanced clinical training.
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The framework developed by Peseschkian introduced a cross-cultural, humanistic approach to psychological treatment. By 1977, the German Association for Positive Psychotherapy was formed, followed by the creation of the World Association of Positive Psychotherapy. His method emphasized a synthesis of techniques that resonated within both academic and clinical circles, eventually influencing mental health practices across thirty-three nations.
Institutional Leadership and Recognition
Peseschkian served in various leadership capacities, including as president of the World Association for Positive Psychotherapy and head of the International Academy for Positive and Transcultural Psychotherapy. His contributions to medical education earned him the Ernst von Bergmann Plaque in 1998. In 2005, he received the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his humanitarian and scientific efforts.
Fast facts
- Born: 1933, Kashan
- Died: 2010, Wiesbaden
- Citizenship: Germany
- Method founded: 1968
- Religion: Baháʼí Faith
- Ernst von Bergmann Plaque: 1998
- Cross of the Order of Merit: 2005
Questions readers ask
What is positive psychotherapy?
It is a psychodynamic, humanistic, and cross-cultural therapeutic method founded by Peseschkian in 1968.
Where is Nossrat Peseschkian buried?
He is buried in Wiesbaden-Sonnenberg, a grave recognized as a site of honor by the local city council.
Achievements
- Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 2005
