Working with the Positives: Strengths Based Approaches for engaging service users

Health, social and criminal justice organisations have traditionally been established to manage risk, problems and symptoms. Consequently, when work is undertaken with service users, it is understandably based on the premise of asking 'what is wrong with you?'

Whilst it is essential to understand a service user's problems, risks and symptoms, overly focussing on them can negatively bias our interactions. These interactions can impact upon service user self-esteem, create disillusionment and reduce motivation.

Strengths-Based Approaches such as Positive Psychology and the Good Lives Model flip the question and enable us to ask 'what is right with you?'

Research indicates that working with people's strengths and adopting a positive approach can increase engagement, motivation and well-being. Over-time this success can eradicate past problems, symptoms and risks. Strengths-Based Approaches thus have the same (and often more significant) impact than traditional approaches, but achieve it in a more engaging and satisfying manner.

Forensic Psychology Consultancy has put Strength-Based Approaches at the heart of their work with service users for many years and has seen the transformative effect it can have.

In recent years FPC has delivered staff training programmes to various health, social and criminal justice organisations so that they can implement the approaches with their service users.