The Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice: Extensions and Cautions

TLDR

The strengths perspective in social work practice continues to develop conceptually, with established use in case management for severe mental illness and emerging applications to other client groups and communities, informed by developmental resilience, healing and wellness, and constructionist narrative approaches. This article reviews current thinking and research on using a strengths orientation and evaluates its conceptual endorsements and criticisms. The authors conduct a literature review of contemporary studies and theoretical discussions to assess the strengths perspective.

Abstract

The strengths perspective in social work practice continues to develop conceptually. The strengths-based approach to case management with people with severe mental illness is well established. More recently, there have been developments in strengths-based practice with other client groups and the emergence of strengths orientations in work with communities. To augment these developments, converging lines of thinking, research, and practice in areas such as developmental resilience, healing and wellness, and constructionist narrative and story have provided interesting supports and challenges to the strengths perspective. This article reviews some current thinking and research about using a strengths orientation and assesses conceptual endorsements and criticisms of the strengths perspective.