Last Updated:

March 10th, 2025

Strengths Model

When we think of therapy, we often think about emotional difficulties, thought patterns, habits or behaviours that could in some way be seen as ‘deficits.’ For most people, the need for therapy arises when we can identify that there is something that feels ‘wrong.’ In our lives. In most mental health conditions – particular among people with mood disorders such as anxiety and depression – there is a tendency towards negative bias. Negative bias is a type of cognitive distortion when thinking seems inherently skewed; there is an ‘asymmetry’ in our perceptions, leading us to ‘attend to, learn from, and use’ negative experiences more than positive ones. This impacts how we think about the world around us and ourselves. The strengths model was established to harness hope and awareness of one’s positive attributes to encourage growth and progress. Rather than focusing on a deficit model, the strengths-based approach attempts to rebalance negative bias by reflecting on individual attributes to encourage people to identify their own value.

The strengths model

The strengths model was initially developed by Professor Charles Rapp and a team of doctoral researchers (Ronna Chamberlain, Wallace Kisthardt, W. Patrick Sullivan et).  The model was initially designed in order to assist ‘adults with psychiatric disabilities served by community mental health centres’

In the words of the research team, the strengths model functions on the understanding that:

“All people possess a wide range of talents, abilities, capacities, skills, resources, and aspirations… a belief in human potential is tied to the notion that people have untapped, undetermined reservoirs of mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual abilities that can be expressed.

The presence of this capacity for continued growth and heightened well-being means that people must be accorded the respect that this power deserves.”

The key element of the strengths model is empowerment. At the time of its conception, this meant empowering individuals to access community care outside of institutions. However, on a more individual level, it means highlighting the vast array of ways humans bring value to the world rather than privileging the ways in which many people struggle.

In this way, the strengths model works through the understanding of the social model of disability; the belief that a condition (such as a mental health condition or addiction) is not the basis for disability. Rather, the social model of disability explains that ‘barriers in society disable people.’ By refocusing on positive attributes, the strengths model helps to rebalance this perspective and help provide support for individuals that can lead to better self-esteem, greater self-awareness and confidence to achieve in new ways.

What is It?

In practice, the strengths perspective is something that is now ‘widespread’ across both medical and social practice. On a basic level, this type of intervention takes a measured approach, and agrees that valuing ‘capacity, skills, knowledge, connections and potential,’ does not mean ignoring challenges. Rather, it means opening discussions to reintroduce positives where previously only negatives may have been found.

This repositioning can powerfully mitigate low self-esteem that may be associated with long-term conditions, encouraging individuals to feel more confident in engaging with therapy, community, occupational and educational opportunities.

The 8 Stages

Whilst the ethos of the strengths model can be applied to different settings, strengths-based therapy in a mental health and addiction context often works to a specific framework. This includes the use of 8 key stages:

  1. Personal History
  2. Addiction / Mental Health and Me
  3. Strengths
  4. Changes
  5. Personal issues
  6. Amends
  7. The future
  8. Relapse prevention

Personal History

Like at the onset of many different types of therapy, a strengths-based approach will begin with getting an overview of personal history. This stage requires reflection and careful thought on specific experiences from the past, including considerations of what may have contributed to the current situation. This could include exploring what may have led to addiction and shaped thought patterns and behaviours in the past.

Addiction / Mental Health and Me

In the second stage, the previous knowledge will be applied to a more specific set of circumstances. If in treatment for addiction, you may start to think about the role your addictive stimuli have played in your life. This could include reflecting on how addiction has shaped your:

  • Relationships
  • Physical health
  • Mental health
  • Motivation

Addressing these challenges can be a difficult but powerful way to establish addiction as a locus of harm. This acceptance is a positive step in the direction of recovery.

Strengths

During this stage, you will take the time to introspect further. This time, you will be focusing on the positive qualities you have. What are your strengths? What behaviours and personality traits are you proud of? What are your key values, and how can these be harnessed to help you move forward from addiction?

Changes

The core of this stage is setting manageable goals for change. The clearer these goals are, the better. This can make them easier to work towards. What small steps can be made to move away from substances? How can you action these, and what support may you need to do so?

Personal issues

Focusing on our strengths is a powerful motivator. However, focusing solely on these can leave us forgetting to address underlying difficulties. Left unaddressed, these difficulties are more likely to raise their head in the future. By tackling specific concerns, trauma, memories or emotional tendencies in a supportive environment, you can begin to take a more measured approach. This can demystify the power of tricky challenges and allow us to work with – not against – hard histories.

Amends

Making amends (or reparations) is core to a lot of addiction support. It requires introspection to consider how our actions and behaviours may have coloured the lives of others as well as ourselves. Addiction does not live in a vacuum. It exists as a ripple on a lake; it can often touch the lives of others. In this stage, you can consider how the effects on these relationships can be addressed.

The future

Up until now, the strengths model has mainly focused on the past. In the seventh stage is the opportunity to plan – to set specific goals for the future. What would you like to achieve? What matters to you most? This kind of long-term thinking can be very inspiring and burgeon a new hope for moving forward when addiction recovery becomes rocky.

Relapse prevention

Ending any therapy can be daunting. To bridge this, the strengths model ends with the designing of a relapse prevention plan. This may include considering:

  • People, places or things that may be triggering
  • What a craving may look like
  • People to contact if things become too much
  • A specific action to take when a craving appears
  • Members of your support network

The Principles Behind the Strengths Model

The strengths model is underpinned by various principles. These include:

  • Collaboration
  • Flexibility
  • Being mindful of language
  • Personal uniqueness
  • The power of focus
  • The power of supporting others

The Benefits of the Strengths Model

The strengths model has become widespread in clinical practice. This is largely due to its capacity to:

  • Build resilience
  • Encourage compassion
  • Focus on positives
  • Increased confidence
  • Taking accountability
  • Foster a sense of control
  • Introducing hope

The Strengths Model in Addiction Treatment

The strengths-based approach to addiction has been in practice since the early 2000s. By working through the 8 key stages, the goal is to address factors contributing to addiction without appearing to ‘blame.’ It refocuses on the positives, which builds the foundation for successful recovery. It aims to reintegrate people into their society without pathologizing them or indicating that they are ‘lesser’ due to their circumstances. This can be a powerful way to inspire early movement towards recovery.

Seek support

Get in touch with us today for a free consultation with our counsellors. We’re here to understand your unique struggles and needs, so we can find the most effective treatment for you. We know addiction can feel overwhelming, but we’re dedicated to helping you carry that burden and guiding you towards a hopeful, addiction-free future.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the intent of the strengths model?
The intent of the strengths model is to showcase the vast array of human potential and inspire individuals to use these strengths to work towards a happier, healthier life.
Who came up with the strengths model?
The Strengths Model was originally developed by a research team (Charles Rapp, Ronna Chamberlain, Wallce Kisthardt and Patric Sullivan at Kansas University in the1980s.
Is the strengths model effective in treating addiction?
A 2011 paper suggests that ‘most clients concluded that a positive working alliance helped them to build trust, self-worth, and self-esteem.

(Click here to see works cited)

  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3652533/
  • https://socwel.ku.edu/history-strengths-perspective
  • https://socwel.ku.edu/history-strengths-perspective
  • https://socwel.ku.edu/history-strengths-perspective
  • https://www.scope.org.uk/social-model-of-disability
  • https://www.iriss.org.uk/resources/insights/strengths-based-approaches-working-individuals#:~:text=Empirical%20research%20suggests%20that%20strengths,saw%20as%20critical%20to%20recovery.
  • https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=U2X5ysgLu38C&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=accepting+addiction+study&ots=mfSXMS4pvm&sig=fNk6ZiP3HrcCqfnNhe4A4S_ALOs#v=onepage&q=accepting%20addiction%20study&f=false

    • Disclaimer:

    The availability of therapies may vary across UKAT centres. The specific therapies provided will be determined based on your treatment plan and the programme offered at your chosen facility. All treatments are subject to clinical assessment and programme availability at the time of admission. For further details on the therapies included in your treatment plan, please contact our admissions team.

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  • https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Deirdre-Osullivan/publication/274997798_SMART_Recovery_Continuing_Care_Considerings_for_Rehabilitation_Counselors/links/5ea6b9ab299bf11256129060/SMART-Recovery-Continuing-Care-Considerings-for-Rehabilitation-Counselors.pdf
  • https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306460321000745
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