Why you should use a strengths based approach to build resilience
In community and individual care, two methodologies of identification and treatment of issues prevail over all others: the strengths based approach and deficit or problem based approach. Most community and health care programs focus on the problem based approach. By looking at ‘what is wrong’, traditional change focused programs tend to expend their energy exploring past issues, labelling problems (and therefore limiting solutions) and ignoring the potential that can arise from adversity. Treating children and adolescents with deficit-based thinking can not only stifle positive progression, it has actually been shown to increase negative outcomes.[1] By focusing on a strengths-based model we can create more sustainable change by helping client’s identify their own strengths and build resilience from the inside out.Our community projects have real outcomes. What is a problem-based approach? Zero-tolerance bullying programs and youth crime intervention programs such as ‘s...