Presentation Ideas for Strength-Based Counseling

Strength-based counseling takes a unique approach to therapy that diverges from more traditional psychoanalytic approaches. While traditional psychotherapy would slowly move deeper to search for the source of negativity and trauma, strength-based counseling seeks to uncover the positive strengths and skills that can potentially empower a client. Presenting on this technique requires a multidimensional approach so that those attending the presentation can confidently transfer it to their own practices.

PowerPoint

• A PowerPoint presentation covering all of the major points about strength-based counseling will educate those in attendance on the basic information they will need to use this technique on their own. It should include the purpose of the therapy, which is to assist those who are depressed, anxious or dealing with self-confidence issues to find their inner strengths, which may have become unconsciously repressed. Describe common interventions, such as balancing the client's negative comments and self-judgments, by encouraging him to search for positive attributes. Provide a separate page for each main point to keep the material digestible.

Assessment Tools

• Discuss how different assessment tools may be useful in getting certain individuals to explore their strengths. Pass around tests such as the Cambell Interest and Skill Survey (CISS) and a version of the Myer-Briggs personality inventory and allow participants to look through them. A skill and interest survey will help clients to realize what their strengths are, while the discovery of a personality type can help them understand strengths through their archetype. Address how to use the results to give the client a greater appreciation of himself.

Case Studies

• Prepare at least two case studies to present. Each case study should tell the story of how your client (or a supervisor's or colleague's client) was able to progress therapeutically through the use of strength-based counseling. Discuss the client's presenting problem, how strength-based therapy was framed and executed within the therapy room, how it was received by the client and what positive changes developed. Make sure to leave out any identifying information, such as the client's name, location or physical features.

Demonstrations

• Demonstrate the use of this technique by recruiting a volunteer. Depending on the time that is allowed for the entire presentation, you may choose to allot anywhere from 15 minutes to a full 50-minute session to display the types of interventions a therapist may use for this type of therapy. Allow the volunteer to either embody himself in the demo or role-play a client who he feels could benefit from this therapy. If there is time, allow participants to break up into dyads and take turns practicing the technique.