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Dr Ilona Boniwell

Ilona Boniwell

Position: Senior Lecturer in Positive Psychology

Location: AE.3.27, Stratford

Telephone: +44 (0)20 8223 4384

Contact address:

School of Psychology
The University of East London
Stratford Campus
Water Lane
London
E15 4LZ

Brief biography:

Dr Ilona Boniwell is the programme leader for the first Masters Degree in Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP), the first postgraduate degree in positive psychology in Europe.

Ilona is the author of Positive Psychology in a Nutshell (2006, PWBC). She founded the European Network of Positive Psychology (ENPP), and is currently the member of its steering committee. Furthermore, she organised the first European Congress of Positive Psychology (June 2002, Winchester) and is the vice-chair of the newly created International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA). She was a recipient of several awards and grants from the Positive Psychology Network and the Gallup Organisation. Recently, Ilona was a consultant for and appeared in the BBC2 series The Happiness Formula. Her other media work included Guardian, Times, Psychologies, Top Sante and Cosmopolitan articles and interviews, as well as radio and TV interviews for BBC 24, BBC London and other channels. She is a prolific speaker and often addresses international psychology and professional audiences.

In addition to her academic work, Ilona is also interested in practical applications of positive psychology. She is a qualified coach and a facilitator of personal development programmes. She is a co-founder of Personal Well-Being Centre: a social enterprise dedicated to the promotion of well-being and personal development in individuals, organisations and educational settings.

Ilona has received her PhD from the Open University. Prior to joining UEL, she worked at Oxford Brookes University and City University.

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Activities/responsible for:

  • Programme Leader for the MSc in Applied Positive Psychology

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Areas of interest/Summary of Expertise:

  • Perceived time use: factors that contribute to satisfaction with time use. Relationships between time use, well-being and other measures of well-functioning.
  • Well-being: studying the lay conceptions of well-being using qualitative methodologies. Operationalisation of the construct of eudaimonic well-being.
  • Positive education: the development and validation of educational programmes aimed at different aspects of optimal functioning.
  • Coaching: the evaluation of coaching effectiveness (with regard to outcomes such as increase in well-being, realisation and the use of strengths, etc.) and studying the mechanisms underlying coaching interventions.
  • Time perspective: validation and further development of existing time perspective inventories (for example, the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory).

Teaching:

Programmes:

  • MSc in Applied Positive Psychology
  • BSc Psychology
  • BSc Psychology for Personal and Professional Development

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Modules:

  • Module leader for Positive Psychology (BSc third-year option)
  • Module leader for Psychology of Well-being (3PD second year core)
  • Module leader for PYM701: Introduction to Positive Psychology (MAPP)
  • Module leader for PYM702: Assessment and Interventions (MAPP)
  • Module leader for PYM703: Applying Positive Psychology (MAPP)
  • Contributing to other modules on MSc in Applied Positive Psychology
  • Contributing to Doctoral programmes in Counselling and Educational Psychology

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Research / Publications:

Current research:

Peer-reviewed Journal Articles
  1. Collard, P., Anvy, N., & Boniwell, I. (2008). Teaching mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT) to students: the effects of MBCT on the levels of mindfulness and subjective well-being. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 21, 323–336. doi:10.1080/09515070802602112
  2. Boniwell, I. (2007). Developing conceptions of well-being: advancing subjective, hedonic and eudaimonic theories. Social Psychology Review, 9(1), 3–18.
  3. Popovic, N., & Boniwell, I. (2007). Personal consultancy: an integrative approach to one-to-one talking practices. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, 5(Special issue), 24–29.
  4. Wesson, K., & Boniwell, I. (2007). Flow theory — its applications to coaching. International Coaching Psychology Review, 2(1), 33–43.
  5. Boniwell, I. (2005). Beyond time management: how the latest research on time perspective and perceived time use can assist clients with time-related concerns. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, 3(2), 61–74.
Non-peer-reviewed Journal Articles
  1. Boniwell, I. (in press). Positive education: applying positive psychology to educational settings. The Los Angeles Psychologist.
  2. Boniwell, I. (2008). Through the lenses of time: in search of balance and well-being. The Psychotherapist, 39, 6–8.
  3. Bartram, D., & Boniwell, I. (2007). The science of happiness: achieving sustained psychological well-being. In Practice, 29, 478–482.
  4. Boniwell, I., & Zimbardo, P. (2003). Time to find the right balance. The Psychologist, 16(3).
  5. Linley, A., Joseph, S., & Boniwell, I. (2003). Positive psychology: its contribution to individuals and society. In P.A. Linley, S. Joseph & I. Boniwell (Eds). Putting positive psychology into practice. The Psychologist Special Issue, 16(3).
  6. Boniwell, I., & Leaf, S. (2001/2). Review of new developments in positive psychology. Consciousness and Experiential Psychology, 7.
Books
  1. Glenville-Cleave, B., & Boniwell, I. (2008). The happiness equation. Avon, MA: Adams Media Corporation.
  2. Boniwell, I. (2006). Positive psychology in a nutshell. London: Personal Well-Being Centre.
Book Chapters
  1. Boniwell, I. (in press). Perspectives on time. In S. Lopez (Ed.), Handbook of positive psychology (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.
  2. Kauffman, C., Boniwell, I., & Silberman, J. (in press). Positive psychology coaching. In T. Bachkirova, E. Duncan & D. Clutterbuck (Eds.), The SAGE handbook of coaching. London: Sage Publications.
  3. Popovic, N., & Boniwell, I. (2006). Personal synthesis programme — bringing psychology to education. In A. Delle Fave (Ed.), Dimensions of well-being: research and interventions. Milan: Franco Angeli.
  4. Boniwell, I., & Zimbardo, P. (2004). Balancing time perspective in pursuit of optimal functioning. In P.A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive psychology in practice. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
Conference Papers
  1. Boniwell, I. (2008). Postgraduate education in positive psychology: a European approach. Paper presented at the 4th European Conference on Positive Psychology, Rijeka, Croatia.
  2. Boniwell, I. (2008). The future of positive psychology. Paper presented at the 4th European Conference on Positive Psychology, Rijeka, Croatia.
  3. Gilani, T., & Boniwell, I. (2008). The primary well-being curriculum: a pilot evaluation. Paper presented at the 4th European Conference on Positive Psychology, Rijeka, Croatia.
  4. Boniwell, I. (2007). Time management revisited: using time in pursuit of satisfaction and well-being. Paper presented at the 1st Applied Positive Psychology Conference, Coventry.
  5. Popovic, N., & Boniwell, I. (2007). Personal consultancy: an integrative approach to one-to-one talking practices. Paper presented at the SGCP 3rd National Coaching Psychology Conference, City University, London.
  6. Boniwell, I. (2006). Meanings of happiness as expressed in the views of UK adults. Paper presented at the 5th International Positive Psychology Summit, Washington.
  7. Boniwell, I., & Popovic, N. (2006). Personal consultancy: an integrative approach to one-to-one talking practices. Paper presented at the 3rd European Conference on Positive Psychology, University of Minho, Braga.
  8. Boniwell, I., & Henry, J.A. (2005). The use of time, life goals and well-being: identifying factors of satisfaction with time use employing qualitative methodology. Paper presented at the BPS Annual Conference, Manchester University.
  9. Boniwell, I. (2004). Eudaimonic well-being. Paper presented at the European Science Foundation (ESF) Positive Approaches to Development seminar [By invitation only], London.
  10. Boniwell, I. (2004). Issues related to defining subjective well-being. Paper presented at the School of Health and Social Welfare postgraduate research seminar, The Open University.
  11. Boniwell, I. (2004). Pathways to well-being. Paper presented at the BPS Annual Conference, Imperial College, London.
  12. Boniwell, I. (2004). Subjective well-being: what do we measure and why? Paper presented at the Institute of Educational Technologies postgraduate research seminar, The Open University.
  13. Boniwell, I. (2004). Subjective well-being: what do we measure and why? Paper presented at the BPS Annual Conference, Imperial College, London.
  14. Boniwell, I. (2004). Use of time and well-being: methodological issues. Paper presented at the 2nd European Conference on Positive Psychology, Pallanza, Italy.
  15. Boniwell, I. (2003). Current developments in positive psychology. Paper presented at the School of Health and Social Welfare postgraduate research seminar, The Open University.
  16. Boniwell, I. (2003). Positive psychology and student retention. Paper presented at the seminar, The Open University.
  17. Boniwell, I., & Popovic, N. (2003). Exploring the methodology of transpersonal experience and criteria for its validity. Paper presented at the BPS Transpersonal Conference, Scarborough.
  18. Boniwell, I. (2001). Review of new developments in positive psychology. Paper presented at the 5th Consciousness and Experiential Psychology Section conference, Durham.
Poster Sessions
  1. Boniwell, I., & Popovic, N. (2004, 30 September-3 October). Personal synthesis programme: a new model of psychological education. Poster session presented at the 3rd International Positive Psychology Summit, Washington.
Invited Talks
  1. Boniwell, I., & Ryan, L. (2008, 18 December). Applying the evidence from positive psychology: how to make coaching even more positive. Masterclass, 1st European Coaching Psychology Conference. London.
  2. Boniwell, I. (2008, 10 December). Positive education: overview and current developments [Invited workshop], Bucks. and Milton Keynes Educational Psychology Service Annual Conference. Aylesbury.
  3. Boniwell, I. (2008, 9 December). Positive education: overview and current developments [Invited workshop], Nottingham Educational Psychology Service Annual Conference. Nottingham.
  4. Boniwell, I. (2008, 31 October). Positive psychology in a nutshell [Invited presentation]. Mahidol University, Bangkok.
  5. Boniwell, I. (2008, 27 October). Positive psychology in practice: overview and recent discoveries [Keynote]. Psychologies Salon, Moscow, Russia.
  6. Boniwell, I. (2008, 26 October). The science of happiness: achieving sustained psychological well-being [Keynote], Befrienders Worldwide 1st World Congress. Pattaya, Thailand.
  7. Boniwell, I. (2008, 24 October). Positive psychology in practice: overview and recent discoveries [Invited presentation], Annual Clinical Psychology Conference. Maudsley NHS Trust, London.
  8. Boniwell, I. (2008, 22 October). Positive education [Keynote], Association of Educational Psychologists Annual Course. Glasgow.
  9. Boniwell, I. (2008, 15 October). Positive psychology and education [Keynote], LEA conference Making Happiness Happen. Cheshire.
  10. Boniwell, I. (2008, 2 October). Positive strategies for change [Invited presentation], National Learning Forum on Wellbeing. Campaign For Learning, London.
  11. Boniwell, I. (2008, 20 September). Positive psychology of change [Keynote], Well-being Live. London.
  12. Boniwell, I. (2008, 18 September). Behavioural change — positive psychology for changing the old habits for the new [Keynote], Food and Fitness Live 2008. London .
  13. Boniwell, I. (2008, 13 May). Positive psychology for clinical psychologists [Invited presentation], Division of Clinical Psychology North Thames Brunch. London .
  14. Boniwell, I. (2008, 17 April). Positive education: bringing well-being to parents, schools and universities [Invited presentation], The 1st Asian New Science of Happiness and Well-Being Conference. Singapore.
  15. Boniwell, I. (2008, 14 March). Positive psychology and education: overview and current developments [Invited workshop], Surrey Educational Psychology Annual Conference. Farnham.
  16. Boniwell, I. (2008, 17 February). Positive psychology and well-being [Invited presentation], Year of Well-Being. Marlow.
  17. Boniwell, I. (2008, 5–6 February). Positive psychology for clinical psychologists [Invited workshop]. Wattar Gruppen, Kognitivt Psykologcenter, Kopenhagen.
  18. Boniwell, I. (2008, 25 January). Positive psychology in a nutshell [Invited presentation]. Alpro, Chapel Brampton.
  19. Boniwell, I. (2008, 9 January). Discovering positive psychology. Riga Teacher Training and Education Management Academy, Riga, Latvia.
  20. Boniwell, I. (2007, 13 December). Applying positive psychology to careers guidance [Invited presentation], Skills Commission, IAG inquiry meeting. Whitehall, London.
  21. Boniwell, I. (2007, 12 December). Positive psychology and education: overview and current developments [Keynote], Kent Psychology Service annual conference. Maidstone.
  22. Boniwell, I. (2007, 8 November). Positive psychology in business: from potential to action [Keynote], Positive psychology, well-being and business: cutting edge science for organisational success. University of East London.
  23. Boniwell, I. (2007, 7 November). Well-being in practice: what practical actions could improve personal and community well-being? [Invited presentation], Health and well-being: the legacy challenge. University of East London.
  24. Boniwell, I. (2007, 11 September). Well-being for your brain [Invited presentation]. British Association Festival of Science, York.
  25. Boniwell, I. (2007, 4 September). Postgraduate education in positive psychology: a European approach [Invited presentation], 2007 Global Well-Being Forum. Washington DC.
  26. Boniwell, I. (2007, 13 July). Positive psychology of time: optimising time perspective and achieving satisfaction with time use [Invited presentation]. Media-Saturn-Holding GmbH, Ingolstadt, Germany.
  27. Boniwell, I. (2007, 19 May). Positive psychology in a nutshell [Keynote], Bristol Happiness Lectures. Bristol.
  28. Boniwell, I. (2007, 13 March). Positive psychology as a framework for coaching effectiveness [Invited presentation]. Association for Professional Executive Coaches and Supervision (APECS), London.
  29. Boniwell, I. (2007, 28 February). Introducing the science of well-being [Invited presentation]. HELP University College, Kuala Lumpur.
  30. Boniwell, I. (2006, 26 December). Personal consultancy [Invited presentation]. Moscow State University, Moscow.
  31. Boniwell, I. (2005, 8 April). Time in our lives: time perspective and perceived time use [Keynote], 1st Annual Coaching and Mentoring Research Conference. Oxford Brookes.

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Other scholarly activities:

  • Fellow of the Institite of Health and Human Development, UEL
  • Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce
  • Vice-chair of the steering committee of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA)
  • Founder and vice-chair of the London and Home Counties Branch of the BPS
  • Member of the steering committee of the European Network of Positive Psychology
  • Member of the International Advisory Board, Centre for Applied Positive Psychology
  • Associate editor for Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice
  • Associate editor for the International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring
  • Ad-hoc reviewer for the Journal of Positive Psychology
  • External examiner for Psychology BSc, University of Buckingham

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Last updated: 19 January 2009.

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Positive Psychology in a Nutshell

“Positive Psychology in a Nutshell” includes the latest research findings and thinking on the topics of happiness, flow, optimism, motivation, wisdom, positive ageing, character strengths, love and more. The book combines a breadth of information about positive psychology with a pinch of critical commentary. It is written in an accessible and engaging style with light-hearted illustrations.

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