STRENGTHS MODEL
APPROACH
“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.”
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP
General objective:
• Explaining the strength-based approach
• Providing the participants with tools
Specific objectives:
At the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
• Describe the philosophy, principles and components
of the approach
• Recognise and identify a person’s strengths
• Determine if you would like to learn more about this
approach
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
1. Philosophy and principles
2. Areas of life and strengths
3. The strength-based assessment and the
recovery plan
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
STRENGTHS-BASED APPROACH
• Developed by Charles Rapp and Rick
Gosha from the University of Kansas
• Used in more than 40 American states and
in several countries
• Enables people to regain control over
their lives by discovering their strengths
and using them to achieve their goals
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
THE PHILOSPHY OF THE APPROACH
• People essentially want the same things,
but do not have the same possibilities
(resources, health, finances, etc.)
• Despite differences and inequalities, most
people can live a full and satisfying life in
their community
• The community plays a major role in
informing and raising awareness among the
population, families and individuals
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
THE PHILOSPHY OF THE APPROACH
Focusing on strengths rather than on
weaknesses:
• Focusing on strengths increases
motivation, while emphasising on the
difficulties results in a feeling of
helplessness.
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
THE 6 PRINCIPLES OF THE APPROACH
1. Any person can
recover and take control
over their life
2. Focus is placed on the
strengths rather than on
weaknesses or difficulties
4. The therapeutic
relationship is based on
trust and
empowerment of the
person
5. The favoured place of
intervention is the
community
3. The person is in
control of the
intervention. He or she is 6. The community is an
in charge of the direction
oasis of resources
of the services
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
IDENTIFYING THE STRENGTHS
Why make an inventory of the strengths?
In order to assist the person and the worker in
terms of being aware of:
• The present competencies and those used in
the past
• The knowledge accumulated through life
experiences
• The resources the person has and those
that are available
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
DISCOVERING THE STRENGTHS
• When we want to discover a person’s
strengths, it is important to take a broader
look rather than only focusing on his or her
personal characteristics
• The identification of the strengths aims to
identify 4 types of strengths
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
DISCOVERING THE STRENGTHS
1. The personal qualities are the traits that
define us. For example:
Honest
Sensitive
Curious
Name other examples of personal qualities
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
DISCOVERING THE STRENGTHS
2. Our abilities and talents: here we are
not referring to what the person is, but
rather to what the person has in terms of
skills. For example:
Talent for
sports
Devoted
mother
Name other examples of skills
Musical
talent
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
DISCOVERING THE PERSON’S STRENGTHS
3. The interests and aspirations: These are
important elements that foster motivation to achieve
an objective.
Learning
to cook
Hunting
and fishing
Having a
job
Name other examples of interests and aspirations
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
DISCOVERING THE PERSON’S STRENGTHS
4. The environmental strengths: These are
the strengths that are external to the
individuals but that can greatly assist them or
her in achieving their goals:
A
supportive
family
A support
group
A job schooling
Name other examples of environmental strengths
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
IDENTIFYING THE STRENGTHS
6 essential components of strength
identification
1. Performing it in a context that makes sense for the
person
2. Conducting it as an open discussion (not as an
interrogation)
3. Following the person’s rhythm
4. Continuous updating
5. Using the person’s words
6. Complete and specific
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
IDENTIFYING THE STRENGTHS
• Targets the person’s recovery
• Focused on the positive aspects of their life
• Fosters the identification of the goals that are
important to them
• Leads to a commitment process
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
STRENGTHS-BASED ASSESSMENT
Once the strengths have been identified, we
can proceed with the strengths-based
assessment
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
STRENGTHS-BASED ASSESSMENT
• The strengths-based assessment does not
replace the psychosocial assessment nor
the conventional intervention tools, which
are important
• The strengths-based approach focuses on the
assets, competencies, favourable conditions
and potential of the people
• We support individuals, families and the
community by focusing on what works well
and the dreams they want to achieve
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
STRENGTHS-BASED ASSESSMENT
• The strengths-based assessment is a tool,
an approach that allows people to take
control over their lives, by discovering
what they can do and the resources they can
use to achieve their goals
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
8 INSEPARABLE AREAS OF LIFE
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
STRENGTHS-BASED ASSESSMENT
Each of the 8 areas of life will be explored:
 Daily life:
• What makes it so that they like or do not like where
they live?
• What makes it so that they feel at home (a balcony,
pictures on the walls, having an aquarium...)?
• What environmental resources are available?
• What life skills do they use?
See the strengths-based assessment model
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
STRENGTHS-BASED APPROACH
Individual
strengths
Personal
qualities
Abilities
Talents
Skills
Interests
Aspirations
8 inseparable
areas of life
Environmental
strengths
Daily living
Finances
Work/education
Social network
Recreation
Overall health
Sexuality
Spirituality
Desired results
 Better quality of life
 Personal accomplishments
 Recovery of power and social integration
Resources
Social
network
Opportunities
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
STRENGTHS-BASED ASSESSMENT
And the difficulties in all this?
•
They must not be denied
• They are addressed when they interfere with
the achievement of one of the person’s goals
• Solutions will be identified in order to
overcome the challenges encountered
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
RECOVERY PLAN
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
RECOVERY PLAN
• Once the priorities have been identified,
the person will set the goals they want to
achieve
• It is important to use the person’s
words when writing the goals
• The objectives of the plan give
meaning to each of our interventions
See recovery plan example
STRENGTHS MODEL APPROACH
ANY QUESTIONS?