Making Gains: Exercising a Strengths-Based Approach

Boss, D.L.¹, Delouche, A^2
1University of Florida, Verenigde Staten
²Univeristy of Florida

 

Submission type

Oral only

Scheduled

Room 119, 12-07-2019, 11:00 - 12:30

Keywords

Strengths-based approach, capacity-building, assessment, intervention, case conceptualization, ecological context, barriers, practice

Summary

This paper presentation will be on the topic of using strengths-based approaches as a lifelong practice in order to empower the individuals that school psychologists work with. Strengths-based approaches are often contrasted with deficit-model approaches that focus on problematic behaviors and dysfunctional symptoms. Strengths-based approaches create a hopeful, positive perspective to addressing students’ needs, increase a deeper understanding of students’ backgrounds, and promote capacity building (Jimerson, Sharkey, Nyborg, & Furlong, 2004). They also play a critical role in facilitating intervention development and individualizing services (Gardner & Toope, 2011). Taking this perspective will go beyond addressing the primary presenting problem in an individual to considering the whole individual’s development and environmental context (Wilding & Griffey, 2014). This presentation will expand upon the importance of adopting a strengths-based approach to assessment, intervention, and case conceptualization. The primary objective will be to communicate the transformative nature of using strengths-based approaches, address barriers to their use and training, and provide practical tools and resources to use with a variety of cases. Attendees will be exposed to recent, peer-reviewed research that addresses evidence-based practices relative to this approach. Implications of findings will be considered and there will be a primary emphasis on application. 

Auteurs