Why a strength-based approach works
Traditional addiction treatment historically focused almost exclusively on what was broken, the behavior, the consequences, the disease. Strength-based approaches, developed from positive psychology and social work research, start from a different premise: that every person entering recovery already possesses assets that, when identified and mobilized, dramatically improve outcomes.
Research published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment found that clients who worked with counselors using strengths-based approaches reported significantly higher self-efficacy, better therapeutic alliance, and lower dropout rates than those receiving deficit-focused treatment alone. The combination of addressing problems while building on strengths is more effective than either approach in isolation.
Strengths and recovery capital
Recovery capital refers to the total breadth and depth of internal and external resources available to support recovery. Strengths are a core component of internal recovery capital. The recovery capital assessment gives you a broader picture of your full resource base, while this inventory focuses specifically on personal strength identification. Together they create a comprehensive map of what you are working with.
Using your strengths inventory in treatment
Print your completed inventory and bring it to your next counseling session, treatment intake, or recovery support meeting. Counselors trained in strength-based approaches will use this as a foundation for treatment planning. It can also help you articulate your capabilities when you are asked about your recovery plan, which is something many people in early recovery struggle with.