
A few examples of personal strengths you can find within you during the recovery process include open-mindedness, bravery, curiosity and leadership. Other strengths, discussed in more detail below, include self-awareness, responsibility, prayer or a spiritual awakening, humility and maturity.
Full Answer
How can I find strength during the toughest parts of addiction recovery?
These tips can help a person find strength during the toughest parts of addiction recovery: Be kind to yourself. In the past, you’ve likely beaten yourself up over misdeeds you’ve committed under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but it’s important to realize that those feelings are perfectly normal and happen to almost everyone in early recovery.
How can I help someone in recovery from addiction?
But, there are ways to help. These tips can help a person find strength during the toughest parts of addiction recovery: Be kind to yourself.
How do you assess a client's strengths and weaknesses?
Watching for strengths. Body language, tone, emotion, and behavior are excellent clues for spotting strengths. To see for yourself, try asking your client to spend five minutes discussing a weakness, and then five minutes discussing a strength.
How do you do a strengths-based intervention?
Look for signs of strength in your client. The first step of a strengths-based intervention, as you might expect, is to learn about your client’s unique strengths. You will achieve this by asking direct questions, and observing body language, emotion, tone, and behavior. Asking about strengths.

What are some strengths in recovery?
A few examples of personal strengths you can find within you during the recovery process include open-mindedness, bravery, curiosity and leadership. Other strengths, discussed in more detail below, include self-awareness, responsibility, prayer or a spiritual awakening, humility and maturity.
Why are strengths important in recovery?
Strengths are what help people cope with adversity and find fulfillment in life, and can be your talents, knowledge, or skills. Strengths build on each other, so by having one strength you can build another.
What are the most important factors that help people recover from addiction?
While there isn't yet a cure, these factors can set recovery on the right path.Readiness to Change. If you know anything about recovery, you know this one's a no-brainer. ... Belief in the Ability to Overcome Challenges. ... Maintenance of Psychological and Emotional Wellness. ... Support. ... Structure. ... Productivity.
What advice would you give to a person who are addicted?
Don't preach or lecture to the addict. They are usually unable to hear what you are saying. Continue to hold them accountable to expectations and offer help to direct them to the treatment they need. Don't expect addicts to keep promises, they are not able to do so while in the process of their disease.
How do I identify my personal strengths?
5 ways to find out what your strengths areAsk around. A great way to find out more about yourself is to ask people you like, trust and respect what they think you're best at. ... Discover your personality. ... Write down what you do. ... Look for patterns. ... Keep an open mind.
What are your strength as a person?
Strengths are tasks or actions you can do well. These include knowledge, proficiencies, skills, and talents....Personal Strengths.AccurateAction-orientedAdventurousConfidentConsiderateCourageousCreativeCuriousDecisiveDedicatedDeliberateDetail-oriented29 more rows
What are coping skills in recovery?
Two important coping skills for recovery are the ability to relax and manage stress, and the ability to change negative thinking. Stress management and meditation are now being used regularly in medicine. The evidence is overwhelming that they are effective in treating anxiety, depression, and addiction.
What makes a treatment effective?
3. Effective Treatment Attends to Multiple Needs of the Individual, not just his or her drug use: To be effective, treatment must address the individual's drug use and any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, and legal problems.
What is the most effective treatment for addiction?
According to American Addiction Centers, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a valuable treatment tool because it can be used for many different types of addiction including, but not limited to, food addiction, alcohol addiction, and prescription drug addiction.
What advice you can give to a friend who is addicted to drugs?
Help them stay focused on positive goals that don't include drugs. Support and acknowledge the positive things they do and achieve, and don't abandon your friend when they slip up – it will probably take time for them to turn things around.
What are 5 things you can say if someone offers you drugs?
In a firm voice, tell the person you don't want to drink or use drugs. Say something like: "No, I'm sorry, but I don't use...." "No, I'm really trying to stay clean."...Say something like:"It's bad for my health.""I could lose my housing.""I have trouble when I use...."
Why is it important to stop drug abuse?
Drug and alcohol addiction can have serious adverse effects on an individual's life. It can affect them physically and mentally while also affecting them in work, school, or their relationships.
What does it mean when someone is addicted to a drug?
Meaning, an addicted individual will continue to abuse their drug of choice through health issues, financial problems, relationship failures, time in jail and other negative consequences. Addiction is a multifaceted disease that can affect anyone regardless of their age, race or gender.
What is the definition of addiction?
The National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse defines addiction as “the continued use of a mood altering substance despite adverse dependency consequences, or a neurological impairment leading to such behaviors.” Meaning, an addicted individual will continue to abuse their drug of choice through health issues, financial problems, relationship failures, time in jail and other negative consequences.
How many people were addicted to drugs in 2006?
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 20.8 million people worldwide over the age of 12 had an issue with drugs or alcohol in 2006. Although many people have reached long-term recovery through effective addiction treatment, there are countless others who aren’t getting the help they need.
Why is it important to acknowledge your achievements?
Recovery is a building-block process and no success is too small to be counted. Recognizing each achievement can help build and maintain morale throughout treatment.
Why do we ask for help?
Asking for assistance enables you to broaden your horizons and gives you a chance to grow on your path to recovery.
Can addiction help you find strength?
For those who do get help, many entering addiction treatment unfortunately often see it as daunting and find themselves struggling for strength during recovery, especially during its initial stages. But, there are ways to help. These tips can help a person find strength during the toughest parts of addiction recovery:
What is the first stage of strengths based treatment 3?
In the first stage of strengths-based treatment 3, “case managers engage clients in a process that is the antithesis of most assessments.” Some practitioners don’t even read the client’s complete medical record until after their first meeting. Instead, they meet you in the present moment, listening to your perspective before learning about other healthcare providers’ opinions. This allows them to approach you as a whole person, making space for you to have your own thoughts and feelings about the healing process.
How to build confidence in a rehab program?
You can begin to build confidence not only by talking about your strengths, but by amassing evidence that you’re capable of making sustainable choices. If you begin this process during your time at an inpatient rehab program, the risks are somewhat mitigated. You can trust that your talk therapist and other healthcare providers will provide feedback if you begin to fall into unhealthy patterns.
How does a therapist help clients?
Working as a team, the therapist and client begin to explore skills that have “been historically successful in the client’s life.” 6 Clients practice viewing themselves in a more positive light, developing confidence and self-compassion. Experts note that this process reveals clients’ inherent resilience. “In most cases, it is not necessary to teach clients new skills, thoughts or emotional reactions. Instead, therapists can help clients identify the strengths they already possess and build a model of resilience from these existing strengths,” according to Christine A. Padesky and Kathleen A. Mooney, creators of the four-step Strengths-Based cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) 7 model. “Rather than focus on areas in which the person is not resilient, we advocate in-depth exploration of areas in the person’s life in which they exhibit sustained activity and that are not linked to problem areas.”
What is the purpose of a strengths based assessment worksheet?
After the initial intake process, clients go through various strengths-based assessment worksheets 4 to help them identify their strengths and skills. This process invites you to take an objective look at your own life experiences and behavioral patterns. For example, one worksheet asks the client to reflect not only on strengths they see in themselves, but on strengths the therapist heard and reflected back to them. Then, the client goes on to list situations in which those strengths were apparent. Every therapeutic process is unique, so your therapist may or may not give you this exact assignment.
What is rehab therapy?
Rehab is an opportunity to develop healthy coping mechanisms. In some forms of treatment, therapists assume that clients are starting from scratch, and unlearning all their current habits to make room for new ones. The strengths model takes the opposite approach. With this type of treatment, you begin by acknowledging and honoring the fact that you already have positive coping mechanisms. Your therapist guides you through the process of honing these skills, and learning to apply them in a healthy and sustainable way.
Why is strength based therapy important?
Strength-based therapy offers you the emotional space you need to build healthier coping mechanisms, and to use them even when you encounter triggers. This strategy is a powerful way to build confidence and start working toward a better life.
What is strength based therapy?
Strengths-based therapy is both a philosophical perspective and a practical approach to the healing process. In order to understand what happens in this form of treatment, it’s important to know about its underlying ideology. Here, we’ll look at the following:
How many strengths can you bring to the table?
These twelve strengths are among the many strengths that you can bring to the table as you deal with your addictive tendencies. Today, do the following “simple” thing: look your addictive tendencies in the eye and, if they need addressing, think through how you might make use of your undeniable strengths in the service of your recovery work.
What is the strength of meaning oriented?
1. First, you are meaning-oriented. The same quality that is such a challenge, namely caring about meaning, is also a real strength because, as someone who is meaning-oriented, you can conceive of meaning as something in your charge.
How to use creativity in recovery?
9. Ninth, you’re creative. You can use your natural creativity in the service of your recovery program by, for instance, substituting creating for using. Say, for example, that you’re trying to stop smoking. If you’re weren’t a creative person you might have trouble filling up those five or ten minutes while you weren’t smoking with some meaningful activity—but because you are creative you could sketch or write for those five or ten minutes and actively use your creative nature in the recovery process.
Do you have to be brilliant to recover?
You don’t have to be brilliant to manage recovery but it’s a real benefit if you are smart enough to anticipate dangers, make plans for risky situations, and discern the extent to which your addictive behaviors are harming you. As a creative person, you are surely smart enough for that. 8. Eighth, you’re thoughtful.
How to help an addict in recovery?
An addict in recovery needs to focus on themselves. It’s important for them to rediscover their identity and focus on working on their inner-self. This includes: 1 Taking responsibility 2 Stopping excuses 3 Building confidence 4 Retraining thought patterns 5 Recognizing weaknesses 6 Reaffirming strengths
What is the best way to help an addict in recovery?
It’s important for them to rediscover their identity and focus on working on their inner-self. This includes: Taking responsibility. Stopping excuses. Building confidence. Retraining thought patterns. Recognizing weaknesses. Reaffirming strengths.
How does addiction affect a person?
Addiction is destructive. Not only does it impact a person in physical ways, but it also has psychological effects. Substance abuse counselors help their clients navigate both the physical and psychological traumas. In this Counselor Corner, we address the importance of helping your client recognize their inner strength and ways you can help them rediscover it.
Why is it important to recognize your inner strength?
They will most likely be their own worst enemy, which is why recognizing their inner strength is so important. For recovery to be successful, your client needs to find their inner strength.
Why is it important for an addict to focus on themselves?
An addict in recovery needs to focus on themselves. It’s important for them to rediscover their identity and focus on working on their inner-self. This includes:
What does it mean when a client is in your office?
If a client is in your office, they’ve already made positive progress. They’re in the right place for help and support. What else have they done that’s positive?
Why is it important to create a routine for recovering addicts?
It can be a coping strategy, a solution to replacing bad habits, a means of reprogramming thought processes, and a way to use time efficiently without wasting energy.
How do life skills help with addiction?
Life skills are a vital part of addiction treatment because they enable you to adapt to a drug-free lifestyle without any issues. Substance use disorders can ruin different areas of your life, like relationships, work, and school. After a successful treatment, you need these skills to face the challenges you encounter in your day-to-day activities. While it may be challenging to learn them in a classroom setting, rehab centers have the tools to ensure you acquire and practice the new skills. At Pennsylvania Adult & Teen Challenge, we can help you develop the crucial skills needed for recovery. To learn more, contact our team today at 844.442.8673
Why is self care important for substance abuse?
Drugs have chemicals that alter your brain’s functioning, which is why most addicts may spend most of their time looking for drugs and alcohol to get high. At some point, drug abusers may not be aware that the habit makes them neglect self-care.
How to manage stress after recovery?
For enhanced mental health, there are several ways you can manage stress, including: Mindfulness. Deep breathing techniques. Positive imagery. Restructuring your thinking. Gratitude.
How to take care of yourself after rehab?
You need to develop these habits to ensure you can take care of yourself after treatment. 3. Assuming Personal Responsibilities.
Why do drug addicts have a problem managing their finances?
Many drug abusers have a problem managing their finances because they focus on getting high. Buying drugs can ruin your finances, so you need to learn necessary personal finance skills to rebuild your life after addiction recovery.
How to recover from substance use disorder?
Recovery from a substance use disorder is a long-term process requiring continued support to help you maintain sobriety and avoid relapse. It will help if you create a routine to ensure you stay away from drugs. It is a challenge to give up on your old habits, but you can manage this by having a solid routine that includes activities to help you stay sober.
What are the duties of a substance abuser?
While undertaking personal responsibilities may be challenging for everyone, individuals with substance use disorders need to put more effort into exercising their duties, including cleaning living spaces and doing laundry. Without such essential life skills, your life can come to a standstill.
What can you learn from addiction treatment?
Through out addiction treatment, you will learn various coping skills and tools to help you get through anything that life throws at you. This is a great section, because it will remind you about all of the tools you have to overcome different challenges you face.
Why is gratitude important in addiction?
We often focus negatives in addiction treatment, like all we have missed out on or lost, but we need to shift our thinking patterns and learn to be grateful for what we have and the opportunity to be changing our lives. Practicing gratitude will also put you in a positive mindset, which greatly benefits the recovery process.
Why is it important to identify your triggers?
It’s so important to identify your triggers, or the people, places, and things that trigger a craving for substances. By identifying your triggers, you can then learn how to safely navigate the cravings they cause if these triggers are unavoidable. Learning about your triggers will help you prepare a relapse prevention plan.
What to do if you have more than one thing you learned about yourself?
If you have more than one thing you learned about yourself, go ahead and list all of the things you learned . It’s especially cool to look back and see all of the insight you’ve gained during addiction treatment, and it can become a great reminder for the future.
What to write about in a 12-step meeting?
For this question, you could write about a 12-step meeting you went to, or the new friend you made for your sober support network , how you shared openly and honestly in therapy, etc. Anything you did that strengthened your recovery should be documented, because even the little things you do to put your sobriety first is an accomplishment.
Is addiction hard to overcome?
You have to be courageous and strong to enter recovery from drugs and alcohol. An addiction is easy to get, but hard to overcome. Many enter the treatment process broken down in the mind, body and spirit, which is why at Royal Life Centers at Sound Recovery, ...
How to help clients with strengths?
Exercise: Encourage your client to keep a strength-spotting journal. In this journal, your client will make a daily entry where they describe three strengths they noticed in other people. These can be three strengths in one person, or spread between several people.
What to do after a client has discovered their strengths?
After your client has discovered their strengths, the next step is to further develop and use them. Guide your client toward new situations where they can use their strengths, or toward new ways their strengths can be used to deal with current problems.
How does learning to spot strengths work?
Learning to spot strengths works in a similar way. When a person learns to spot strengths, they’ll begin seeing them everywhere. By learning to spot strengths in others, your client will eventually start to notice strengths in themselves, along with several other benefits.
How to spot invisible strengths?
In a similar way, seemingly invisible strengths can be spotted by the way they affect a person’s life. One good way to help a client spot strengths is to ask questions about what they enjoy, what activities they gravitate toward, and when they are happiest. The answers usually point toward their strengths.
What is strengths based therapy?
Research in positive psychology has shown us that people who know their strengths and use them frequently tend to feel happier, have better self-esteem, and are more likely to accomplish their goals. However, many people have a hard time identifying their strengths (4). They see them as ordinary, even when they are not.
What is Strengthspotting?
4. Linley, P. A., & Burns, G. W. (2010). Strengthspotting: Finding and developing client resources in the management of intense anger. Happiness, healing, enhancement: Your casebook collection for applying positive psychology in therapy, 1-14.
How to spot a weakness?
Body language, tone, emotion, and behavior are excellent clues for spotting strengths. To see for yourself, try asking your client to spend five minutes discuss ing a weakness, and then five minutes discussing a strength. Take note of the differences in body language.
Why is it important to build trust in counseling?
As you may have found, when trust and rapport are not established, a client tends to be more guarded and resistant to the counseling process. So, rather than give advice or try to change a client, I believe a counselor’s role is to observe, provide feedback, and give information.
What is the first step in building trust in counseling?
The foundation of counseling and the first step in building trust begins with a client-centered approach including: (1) genuineness, (2) unconditional positive regard, and (3) empathy. This means being truthful and honest, accepting the client but not the behavior, and having empathy for the client’s situation.
What is the basis of rapport in NLP?
According to NLP tenets, the basis for rapport is “when people are like each other they like each other.” Strategies for building rapport with a client include: observing eye accessing clues and predicate phrases, as well as matching and mirroring the client’s behavior.
How to mirror a client?
Five ways to match or mirror are as follows: 1. Physical actions – If the client crosses his or her legs, then, the counselor should have legs crossed . 2. Speaking tone, volume, and tempo – If the client speaks softly and quickly; then, the counselor should speak softly and quickly. 3.
Why is the Logical Levels exercise important?
The Logical Levels exercise is a valuable NLP tool for organizing a person’s thinking because it helps the counselor understand what makes the client “tick.” The counselor uses the process to identify difficulties and to help the client understand in a clear and structured manner where he or she is stuck. The highest level is identity and the lowest level is environment; each level builds on the previous levels.

The Philosophy of Strengths-Based Treatment
Strengths-Based Treatment in Practice
- The actual process of strengths-based recovery may look and feel different from other types of talk therapy. Because the goal is to empower the client, and not to “fix” them or their problems, therapists use a distinct set of techniques and conversation styles. Clients are encouraged to assess and celebrate their own unique strengths, rather than conforming to a set of values that …
Strengths-Based Treatment in Community
- You are not alone in your experiences. Strengths-based recovery practice8recognizes that community is “an oasis of potential resources,”and a very important component of healing. This applies to your existing community—family, friends, colleagues, etc.—and also to the new community you’ll build during therapy. This community may come from group therapy, support g…
Holistic Strengths-Based Treatment
- The strengths model is intended to treat the whole client, in the wider context of their life and community. Rather than just treating your symptoms, this approach is intended to improve every aspect of life, including self-image, patterns of behavior, and interpersonal dynamics. Although clients are asked to evaluate their personal histories, the ...
Developing The Strength to Change
- In strengths-based therapy, the client is positioned as an expert. The therapist trusts you to make your own decisions and to implement your skills. By learning how it feels to be trusted, you’ll begin to trust yourself, either again or for the first time. When you trust yourself to make good decisions, you’re far better equipped to navigate difficult situations. Strength-based therapy offers you the …