2. Objectives
1. To gain an appreciation for the strengths
based perspective and how this may facilitate
growth and awareness with people Hayley works
with.
2. For Hayley to gain an appreciation for your
individual and / or team struggles at Greerton
WINZ.
3. For us all to acknowledge the strengths and
skills you have developed individually and as a
team in spite of these struggles.
3. Strengths elicit….
Hope
Resilience
Self Awareness and acceptance
Envision a preferred life
Empowerment
4. Strengths are NOT…….
Accentuating the positive and
eliminating the negative.
Fanciful or wishful Pollyanna
thinking,
5. Strengths are
Strengths are reflected truths in
every struggle and presenting
problem
Always present, and are used to push
back upon the problem or issue.
6. Strengths can drive us forward to alleviate the
impacts of the problem
But they can also act as ‘Shadow
strengths’, that could be perpetuating the
problem or not allowing other strengths to be
potentially developed and implemented.
For example – caution and restraint can be
useful , especially in times of intense emotional
distress, however, the dichotomy of these
strengths can be indecision and missed
opportunities when taking responsibility for
life choices.
7. Part of the equation
Problem Strengths Possibilities
8. Strengths of……..
Wisdom and Knowledge
Courage
Humanity and Love
Justice
Temperance
Transcendence
9. Hayley working with Strength Cards
Hayley
to look through the strength cards before a client
comes to work with me. This helps me to focus on what
I acknowledge are the clients strengths. This enables
me to start with an appreciative and respectful
stance, that will facilitate a discussion with the client
that helps them explore the possibilities and stories
when the problem is not so invasive or impacting.
This helps me to explore my own problems and
possibilities as an emerging
counsellor, mum, wife, daughter, sister and friend.
10. Hayley working with Strength Cards
Client
Clients sort out the strength cards into 3 piles
Strengths I have
Strengths I don’t have
Strengths I am not sure about
Some questions that I may ask to develop the exploration.
What is you guess on how you developed these strengths?
How have these strengths helped the problem getting worse?
When do you put these strengths into action?
What strengths would you like to develop?
How would these help you in your problem?
Do you know other people who use these desired strengths, how do they use them?
Can you consider a way of borrowing and using these strengths in your situation?
11. The curious paradox is that
when I accept myself just
as I am, then I can change
- Carl Rogers
