We can work on the person's semantic reactions. We can change the way she responds so that she mostly assigns positive meaning to any event, and so that she mostly perceives things in a positive light. We can do that simply by dealing with whatever she comes in with a negative reaction to and gradually transform each one of them. We make the person think and feel positive.
With "negative" I am referring to what is limiting to the person, not to any judgment of what is good or bad. With "positive" I am referring to what is empowering, what increases the power of choice, what is whole and in harmony, and what is exciting.
We can build up the person's positive abilities and general ability to deal with things. We do that by working through general modules, systematically covering each of the desirable abilities. We work not necessarily on what she DOES have a problem with, but we cover anything she COULD have a problem with, and put positive abilities and power of choice in its place. We exercise positive qualities.
We can also work more directly on the positive outcomes that are desired. That is, we help the person accomplish what she wants, externally to herself. If something around her isn't working, we can debug it and interact with it and transform it. We can focus on USING positive abilities and achieving positive things in life. We make the person act positively.
It takes many different forms, but the main principle is: Whenever you have a chance of changing something negative into something positive, do it.
Notice also that there can be great value in what some people would label as "negative" experiences. You can be empowered from even the most challenging and demanding conditions.
Simply ignoring one's situation and labeling it as "nice" and "fine, thank you" is not doing anybody much good. What we are after is to get the client to DEAL with her situation, and to deal with it in a CONSTRUCTIVE fashion.
The person's integrity must always be respected. Don't judge for her what she should be dealing with and what she shouldn't. Get her to deal with what she is in the middle of, but it is not up to you to tell her what it is right or wrong to be in the middle of. Help her get the best out of it and to move in a positive direction with it.