Strength Based Counseling

I have been
working with addicts since the mid-60's[2]
and I continue to be impressed by their creativity, charm, camaraderie and
courage.  An addict with the disease of
drug addiction will use all of these laudable strengths though, to obtain money
and/or goods in order to maintain an ever increasing habit.  He or she may be an urban street addict or a
suburban housewife.  The disease will
take all addicts down to a level that often compromises their human dignity,
their closest relationships and even their lives.  I have said before that the burgeoning
suburban addiction to pain killers is now morphing into a major suburban heroin
epidemic.  I will be discussing this
trend in a future blog.

Now the
question still is, what to do about it?
Prevention efforts have fallen short but data now coming out about the
potentially dangerous outcomes of subscription to pain killers may wake people
up and slow the epidemic.  The immediate
problem is what kind of treatment is best for these suburban and urban heroin
addicts?

The key to
recovery for helping addicts is support often from others who have been there,
encouraging a strong sense of self worth, positive friends and abstinence from
heroin.  Naturally abstinence is essential
and positive friends are also critical.
These two aspects of recovery are easy to see and measure; but what
about self worth?  I have not found that addicts, often with
low self esteem, respond well to the standard Medical Model of assessment, treatment and counseling.  This seems more like a problem oriented
approach and although a persons strengths are part of the assessment, the
recovering addict will often be more inclined to believe that he/she is "messed
up" and that his/her strengths are just tacked on; no more than window
dressing.  Therapists sometimes attempt
to give some hope in their balanced assessment.
"...look at the bright side, you're a handsome young man with much
potential..." and on and on with positive but patchwork remarks.

This kind
of feedback is often not viewed by the recovering addict as either positive or
in balance.  The other misconception of
the recovering addict is that "my counselor will fix me.."  In other words, "it's the counselor's
responsibility if I don't get well."

Upfront
questioning of a recovering addict, with nothing recorded, about his/her past
behavior, is often a more realistic approach as compared to the traditional
often negative written assessment followed by a label (emotionally disturbed or
socially maladjusted etc.).  The
counseling session should focus on the recovering addict's understanding and
use of his/her own strengths.  The recovering
addict usually knows his/her problem but at the same time has little confidence
that change is possible.  Frankly, the
disease of addiction will be with him/her for a lifetime but it can be kept in
remission with the right approach.  The
disease is similar to diabetes in that it is always there but the right
treatment and/or support can keep it under control.  

In my
opinion, strength counseling is the right approach.  The "strength counseling" that I am
describing is not about ignoring the past or the disease of addiction.  It's about a focus that will have the best
potential to help addicts to help themselves, one day at a time for the rest of
their lives.  It's not about denying the
past or trying to turn the negative past experiences into something wonderful
or even therapeutic.  Yes, addicts in
recovery need to learn from their mistakes but what about their strengths and
learning how to stay clean and sober or how to build an attitude and a
lifestyle based on improved self-worth? 

Like most
behavioral and attitudinal changes, this new positive lifestyle has to be
practiced to be internalized.  That's the
way drug use becomes drug addiction – day by day, month by month, year by year with
practice.  The same formula must be used to
allow for a new positive drug/alcohol free lifestyle to emerge and this also will
take time – years!  This is called
"recovery."  Many if not most in recovery
must remain abstinent to stay in recovery but a small number, with daily
awareness and often spiritual support, might learn to control their
drinking.  This positive change of
abstinence or controlled drinking will often require a major lifestyle change
but many can do it and maintain it, one day at a time, year after year.

"Strength
counseling" is an approach that compliments an addict's needs in recovery.  I am inclined to support Elsie Jones Smith,
PhD in her thoughts, opinions and published papers listed below for reference.

*******************************************************

Addendum

The Strength-Based
Counseling Model

A Paradigm Shift in Psychology

Elsie Jones
Smith, TempleUniversity Clinical
Psychologist, a Licensed Psychologist, a Counselor Educator and the President
of the Strengths-Based Institute

 

Abstract

Sometimes, it is difficult for a
profession to move forward because its members interpret emerging conceptual
models from the perspective of old frameworks. Each of the five reactants in
this issue o  The Counseling
Psychologist interpreted the strength-based counseling model within their
own self-adopted framework—Adlerian psychology, role strain theory, optimal
development, self-efficacy, or wellness. Only one reactant had the courage to
say that although counseling psychology has historically "talked the talk"
about building strengths in individuals, it has steadily embraced the medical
model. If counseling psychology is to go forward, we will need honest appraisals
of what goals we have and have not accomplished. Strength-based counseling
represents a paradigm shift in psychology from the deficit medical model to one
that stresses clients' strengths. The model will hopefully encourage the
profession to act on its espoused commitment to strength development for
individuals across the life span.

https://www.google.com/#q=elsie+j.+smith%2C+temple+university%2C+strength+based+counseling

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=strengths+based+counseling+theoryhl=enas_sdt=0as_vis=1oi=scholartsa=Xei=zn-CUvqvKtW54AP_84CYCgved=0CDUQgQMwAA

The Strength-Based
Counseling Model

1.
Elsie J. Smith

1.
TempleUniversity

Abstract

This
article proposes a strength-based model for counseling at-risk youth. The
author presents the assumptions, basic concepts, and values of the strength
perspective in counseling and offers strength categories as a conceptual model
for viewing clients' behavior. Propositions leading toward a theory of
strength-based counseling and stages of this model are given, representative
strength-based counseling techniques are examined, and a case study is used to
illustrate risk factors, protective factors, and strength assessment. Ethical,
research, and training implications of the strength-based model of counseling
are discussed.

 Articles citing this article

  • Training
    and Practice in Trauma, Catastrophes, and Disaster Counseling    The
    Counseling Psychologist November 1, 2011 39: 1160-1181
  • o
    Full Text (PDF)
  • o
    Abstract
  • Career-Related
    Success-Learning Experiences of Academically Underachieving Urban Middle School
    Students    The Counseling Psychologist October 1,
    2011 39: 1024-1060
  • o
    Full Text (PDF)
  • o
    Abstract
  • Belongingness
    as a Protective Factor Against Loneliness and Potential Depression in a
    Multicultural Middle School    The Counseling Psychologist July
    1, 2010 38: 626-651
  • o
    Full Text (PDF)
  • o
    Abstract
  • Multicultural
    Personality: An Evolving Theory of Optimal Functioning in Culturally
    Heterogeneous Societies    The Counseling Psychologist July
    1, 2010 38: 714-758
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    Full Text (PDF)
  • o
    Abstract

  • The
    Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior to Prevention
    Science in Counseling Psychology    The Counseling
    Psychologist July 1, 2008 36: 777-806
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    Abstract

  • Differential
    Impacts of Stressful Life Events and Social Support on the Mental Health of
    Mainland Chinese Immigrant and Local Youth in Hong Kong:
    A Resilience Perspective    British Journal of Social
    Work February 1, 2008 38: 236-252
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  • Challenges
    of Work: Voices of Persons With HIV Disease    The Counseling
    Psychologist January 1, 2008 36: 42-89
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  • The Strength-Based Model for Counseling
    At-Risk Youths    The Counseling Psychologist January 1,
    2006 34: 108-117

  • Promoting Strengths in a Socially Toxic
    World: Supporting Resiliency With Systemic Interventions    The
    Counseling Psychologist January 1, 2006 34: 80-89

  • Resilience, Meaning, and Well-BeingThe
    Counseling Psychologist January 1, 2006 34: 96-107

  • Counseling Psychology and
    Strength-Based Counseling: A Promise Yet to Fully Materialize    The
    Counseling Psychologist January 1, 2006 34: 90-95
  • Spirituality
    and Mental Health among Homeless Mothers    Social Work
    Research January 9, 2013 0: svs034v1-svs034
  •  Full Text

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