Systematic assessment of the six dimensions of psychological well-being (self-acceptance, positive relations, autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life) to define the targets of work.
Step-by-step guide
- Introduce the Ryff model: six dimensions of well-being
- For each dimension: "How would you rate this in your life, 1-10?"
- Explore each: examples, situations, concrete details
- Identify 1-2 dimensions with the lowest scores — these are the targets
- Identify 1-2 strong dimensions — these are the resources
- Build a plan: which dimension to start with? What is the first step?
When to use
- Sessions 1-2, for orientation
- Repeat every 4 weeks to track progress
Key phrases
Ryff described six dimensions of psychological well-being: self-acceptance, positive relations, autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, and purpose in life. Let's go through them one by one and rate each from 1 to 10 in your life right now.
Follow-up questions
Can you give me a concrete example of when this dimension was strong?
And when was it weakest in the past year?
Which dimension would make the biggest difference if it moved up by one point?
Which of these six is the easiest place to start?
Alternative phrasings
If we met in a year and this dimension was much stronger, what would be different in your life?
Let's rate the same six dimensions again now — what has shifted since last time?
Warnings
- ⚠️ Do not turn this into a test. It is a tool for dialogue, not for psychometric diagnosis.
- ⚠️ Low scores are not verdicts. They are the pointers to where the work begins.
Source: Ryff, 1989; Ryff & Keyes, 1995; Fava, 2016
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.