Dr. William Kent Larkin is a former neuropsychologist turned Life Coach. He sees life coaching as the opposite approach to traditional psychotherapy. Life Coaching for discovery and growth is at the opposite end of the continuum of the focus on the past and negative problem-solving. Dr. Larkin focuses on finding and identifying three layers of positive growth with the belief that there is little or no correlation between focusing on the past or on problems and actual positive change and growth in life. It is one thing to get back to ground zero, it is quite another thing to grow in a positive direction that enhances and makes life better. To the contrary, and supported by recent scientific research, human weaknesses change really very little over a life time. One’s innate strengths, on the other hand, show great potential for growth. So much so, in fact, that this recognition of positive, innate strengths acts as a buffer and can pull along the negatives in life into a more satisfying and fulfilling life. Dr. Larkin’s approach to life coaching takes into account three major areas which research shows occur most frequently in people with high levels of life satisfaction and happiness. The first is “the pleasant life”, which focuses on increasing positive emotions. Sets of emotions are identified which can be strengthened, and in doing so, they become stronger. These positive emotions, exercised something like “muscles” act as a buffer against negative emotions that cause anxiety, flatness, and boredom in life. Dr. Larkin calls this the emotional gym or the workout for emotional health and well-being. Research shows that we are 9 times more likely to remember a negative event that a positive one, simply as the result of social evolution. The emotional gym or positive strength training reverses this tendency and gives strength to the positive experience of emotion. The exercises build an upward spiral of hope and offset the downward spiral of negative emotions. There is energy in each spiral once it begins; the sooner you learn to intervene, the better you will feel. The second area involves the identification of 5 signature strengths. This is something like the diagnosis of what is good. For years, psychologists have used a book called the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) to diagnose neurosis and psychosis. If you visited a psychologist you probably received a number that was a description of a negative diagnosis, a problem or deficit in personal functioning. However, now there is a new manual for the whole other side of healthy human life called the Classification of Strengths and Virtues, also published by the American Psychological Association. It is over 700 pages of a classification of what are called signature strengths and virtues, the measurement and approaches to increasing their presence in life. In life coaching as it approached by Dr. Larkin, you will be tested and discover your 5 signature strengths, innate strengths, that if used every day increase happiness and well-being and lead eventually to a state called “flow”, being one with the music. The third area of discovery for personal fulfillment exists in an exploration of “the meaningful life”. Research shows that the happiest and most fulfilled people are those who have a sense of meaning and purpose in life. Identifying meaning and purpose; a sense of significance is something that Dr. Larkin believes is possible all through life, and especially in the new second half of life which longer life expectancy has given us. The experience of recognizing and developing strategies for utilizing signature strengths often opens the doorway to a discovery of deeper meaning and purpose in life. Specific plans are charted for using strengths to find direction, meaning, and purpose in life. Not only is scientific testing a part of this process, but there are measurements of progress that give feedback about the effectiveness of the process. Dr. William Kent Larkin, was educated at Yale University and holds a doctorate in psychology and religion from Harvard University and post-doctoral certification in neuropsychology. He is in private practice as a Life.