why strengths and values are important in mental health treatment

Findings from the literature have shown that individuals’ strengths are related to mental health improvement. These strengths can bring about positive outcomes in various aspects of life as satisfaction, functional status or health status, and have the potential to aid mental health recovery. Strengths-based approach in mental health practice

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What is the importance of strengths in mental health?

When a person uses their strengths, they tend to feel energized, and they report higher levels of self-esteem, well-being, and other desirable outcomes. Studies have indicated that strength-based positive psychology interventions might reduce depression, and contribute to successful goal completion .

What are the benefits of strength-based positive psychology interventions?

Jan 26, 2010 · Findings from positive psychology are important to mental health services because its focus on a good life is as relevant to people with mental illness as to people without mental illness. One key advance is in relation to empirical investigation of mental health.

What are your strengths and why do they matter?

Jul 27, 2017 · Values often translate to the standards of behavior a person wants to demonstrate—to him- or herself, as well as to others. Our values help define the kind of person we want to be and the kind of...

What are patient values and why are they important?

Feb 05, 2022 · Values clarification is an aspect of CBT that involves identifying a patient’s personal value system and creating a hierarchy of values that are important to that patient. This value system is used to set treatment goals for the patient and can help a patient exit their comfort zone in order to improve their quality of life. Why This Technique Is Important For …

Why is value important in mental health?

Why is strength-based approach important in mental health?

Why is strengths-based approach important?

What are strengths for improving mental health?

Why is understanding a client's strengths important in treatment?

Is the strength-based approach effective?

What are the aims of a strength-based approach?

What is a strengths-based approach Why is this kind of approach important when working with people who have experienced trauma?

How do you use a strengths-based approach?

What are your strength as a person?

What is a strengths based approach to mental health?

A strengths-based approach to mental health recognizes and embraces these facts. “Strengths” is a concept that encompasses many aspects of who people are. Strengths include character traits, talents, and abilities.

What are the strengths of a therapist?

Strengths include character traits, talents, and abilities. When you recognize, develop, and use them, you can take forward action and be who you are. You are empowered to live well in spite of mental illness and other challenges. Therapists draw from a variety of theories and techniques to help people work past mental health challenges.

What is strengths based therapy?

A strengths-based approach to mental health leans heavily toward exploring, developing, and using your traits and abilities to transcend problems; however, that doesn’t mean that strengths-based therapy never explores problems. Therapy is rarely all-or-nothing but instead uses a wide range of approaches to help people heal.

What is a therapist?

Therapists draw from a variety of theories and techniques to help people work past mental health challenges. Some are problem-oriented and seek to uncover what is wrong. Other mental health professionals, such as strengths-based counselors, aren’t as concerned with the problem as they are with what is already working and what people have within ...

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Is it hard to live with bipolar 2?

Yes, I have bipolar 2 disorder. And yes, it’s challenging to live with it. But I’m always trying to stay positive and want to share three ways to live your best life with bipolar disorder vs just surviving. ( Watch Hannah and subscribe to the HealthyPlace YouTube channel for more great mental health videos .) YouTube.

Is therapy all or nothing?

Therapy is rarely all-or-nothing but instead uses a wide range of approaches to help people heal. Strengths-based therapy just focuses more on things within you that already work. Five Character Strengths of People Living with Anxiety. Using Your Strengths When You Feel Weak Improves Your Mood.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

How many people are languishing at 14?

A similar US study of youth (n = 1,234) found 6% of 12 to 14 year olds Languishing, 45.2% with Moderate Mental Health, and 48.8% Flourishing, with respective proportions of 5.6%, 54.5% and 39.9% in 15 to 18 year olds [ 45 ].

What is the definition of health?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declares that health is " A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity " [ 1 ].

Why is it important to have a lack of workforce skills?

A relative lack of workforce skills in promoting well-being is particularly important in mental health services, since mental disorders directly impact on personal identity and ability to maintain social roles.

What are the two new sources of knowledge available to mental health professionals?

• Two new sources of knowledge are now available to mental health professionals: collated syntheses of narratives of recovery from mental illness, and empirical evidence about well-being from the academic discipline of positive psychology

What is CBT in psychology?

This psychological intervention will be familiar to most clinical readers, so no introduction will be given. Competently-provided CBT is aligned with many elements of promoting recovery and personal well-being: a focus on personally-valued rather than service-valued goals; responsibility for change lies with the patient not the therapist; the development of meta-cognitive awareness - an awareness of thoughts being distinct from self - which creates the context in which a positive identity can flourish, despite the presence of ongoing symptoms of mental illness; enhancing self-management skills and reinforcing interdependence and independence rather than dependence, leading to sustained gains after the end of the formal therapy; and an emphasis on homework, reality testing and learning opportunities which all contribute to keeping the person in their life during therapy. If unhappiness is caused by a mismatch between self and ideal-self images, then CBT has the potential to focus on the environmental reality as much as the personal interpretation of experience. This points to a wider role for professionals, a point we will return to. Recent approaches to CBT explicitly focus on building strengths and resilience [ 89 ].

What is the Collaborative Recovery Model?

The Collaborative Recovery Model emphasises key recovery values of autonomy and self-determination [ 55 ], and builds on an established evidence base around personal goal-setting and goal-striving [ 56 ]. Preliminary evaluations of CRM are positive, showing improvements in staff attitudes ( e.g. hopefulness) and knowledge [ 57 ]. A 10-site randomised controlled trial across three Australian states is underway.

What is a reasonable goal?

The concept of a reasonable goal captures the balance in setting goals which are neither too easy (leading to boredom and distraction) nor too difficult (leading to anxiety and heightened self-awareness). A good life is not achieved by simply lowering expectations, as commentators from both left-wing politics (who want more justice) and right-wing politics (who want more excellence) have noted [ 54 ]. But nor is it achieved by raising expectations too high - recovery should be a journey, not a tread-mill.

How does values clarification help with ambivalence?

As natural and understandable as it is to have mixed feelings about making significant changes, a process of values clarification can help tip ambivalence toward motivation to change. Denial begins to dissipate when someone consciously considers the differences between their behaviors in active addiction and their values, and between their current situation and their hopes for the future.

What is addiction in psychology?

Addiction is about using alcohol and other drugs to feel good or to feel better— it is the seeking of pleasure by means of neurochemical reward and/or relief. However, the way to genuine contentment and satisfaction isn’t through pleasurable experiences that depend on external circumstances.

How does addiction affect people?

Sometimes it happens within a few weeks and sometimes it takes months or even years, but however positive and healthy a person’s values may be, those values are eventually crowded out by the obsessive thinking related to using alcohol and other drugs, the compulsive need to use, and the self-absorbed attitudes that are dominant during active addiction.

What is the importance of recovery?

Longstanding values that people have ignored or let slide during their addiction again become a priority, while some newer values may also begin to assume importance. Recovery provides the opportunity to identify and establish new healthy priorities, and revive the personal qualities that have always been important to but were buried by alcohol and other drug use.

Why is it important to consider values?

Even though values are often fairly stable it is not unusual for them change over time. As we progress through life and have new and different experiences , some values become less important to us while others become more so. This is one reason why it is helpful and healthy to regularly consider what is truly important to you. Even if you believe your values haven’t changed over the years, it is still helpful to engage in the exercise of values clarification.

What happens when you work toward living in accordance with your values?

When people work toward living in accordance with their identified values, their chances of success in recovery increases, as does their overall level of contentment. Invariably, when our actions are in alignment with our values, we do better and we feel better.

What are values in life?

What are values? Values are qualities or principles that people consider to be important and wish to personify. Your values represent what you view as most meaningful in life. Values often translate to the standards of behavior a person wants to demonstrate—to him- or herself, as well as to others.

Why is value clarification important in CBT?

Values clarification is particularly important in CBT because some people might view CBT as a “technical psychological intervention that prioritizes techniques or strategies over relationships and values”. Values clarification is also important in CBT (and other therapeutic interventions) as an assessment tool.

What is value in CBT?

A Definition. Values are “fundamental attitudes guiding our mental processes and behavior” that “produce the belief that life is meaningful and serve as a measure of how meaningful one’s actions are, that is, consistent with that person’s value system” (Vyskocilova et al., 2015). Values clarification is an aspect of CBT ...

What is values clarification?

Values clarification is a technique used in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that aims to help people understand their value systems. This article will cover what values clarification is and why it’s important in CBT. Finally, this article will cover how to use values clarification in therapy. Before you read on, we thought you might like ...

What is value congruence?

Value congruence is the extent to which an individual’s behavior is consistent with the stated value. Sticking with the example of creativity, value congruence is achieved if I am creative in my work on a regular basis. Not being creative would lead to value incongruence. In that state, it is difficult to experience a sense of meaning and I will be more likely to procrastinate.

What happens when your goals and values are aligned?

In short, your goal is not to achieve your value, but when your goals and values are aligned, you will experience more meaning and avoid procrastination.

What is the purpose of distance from social pressures?

Creating distance from social pressures: helping the patient distinguish between their own motivations and desires and those of the people and society around them.

Why is it important to know your values?

When we are unsure about our own values and morals, we risk a few negative outcomes. First of all, being unsure about our values can lead to stress and anxiety. Even worse, being unsure about our values can lead us to act contrary to our values, which can lead to even more stress and anxiety (along with guilt). For these reasons, it is important for all of us to know what our values are (whatever they may be) and act according to them.

How does mental health affect quality of life?

Mental health heavily influences our quality of life. So it makes sense that mental health, just like physical health, needs to be taken care of and maintained. And one way that it can be maintained is through finding a sense of community.#N#Community can be defined in many ways, but when simplified down to its most important element, community is all about connection. Community is not just an entity or a group of people, it’s a feeling. It’s feeling connected to others, feeling accepted for who you are and feeling supported. Having connection can help us feel wanted and loved.

How to broaden your community?

Connecting with something bigger than you is another helpful way to broaden your community. Humans crave connection. Feeling accepted for who you truly are can give you validation and self-worth. Knowing there are people who support you and will be there for you when you’re struggling provides a sense of safety.

Why is community important?

Community is critical for us to thrive, especially for someone with mental illness who is already experiencing the common symptoms of loneliness and isolation. Community provides many elements that are critical to mental health, but here are three of the most beneficial aspects. Belonging.

What is the sense of belonging?

A true sense of belonging includes the ability for you to feel you are a part of the community as your true self. There is not anything you have to change to be a part of the community, but instead, you are embraced and appreciated for your unique qualities. Support.

Why is it important to know there are people who support you?

Knowing there are people who support you can help you feel cared for and safe, and can benefit your outlook on life. Purpose. In community, people fill different roles. Perhaps you’re the friend who enjoys cooking and can be counted on to bring a hot meal over when someone is going through something.

What does it mean when you don't fit in?

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit in, you know it can be a lonely experience. Community provides a sense of belonging — a group you identify as being a part of. This is different than conforming to be in a group. A true sense of belonging includes the ability for you to feel you are a part of the community as your true self.

Is community important for mental health?

And if you haven’t found a strong sense of community yet, keep trying. No matter if your community is big or small, finding people you connect with is vital for your mental health.

How can a mental health nurse help a patient?

You can help your patients by providing kind, nonjudgmental care that acknowledges all aspects of their makeup.

Why do nurses need to use their knowledge of patients?

Furthermore, nurses must use their knowledge of patients to handover to multidisciplinary teams effectively, to ensure continuity of care. However, there’s so much more needed to nurse patients who experience mental illness, and who are often distressed or confused. So now it’s time to put the knowledge books aside and think about the attributes ...

Why is continuing professional development important for mental health nurses?

Continuing professional development that focuses on compassion will enable delivery of excellent patient-centered and evidence-based care. Moreover, good mental health nurses must commit to taking good care of their own physical, emotional and mental health. If a nurse is not okay, how can they expect to look after their patients

What is the role of a mental health nurse?

Active listening and paraphrasing what the patient just said, makes them feel heard, understood and cared for. This is crucial attribute of a mental health nurse.

Why is compassion important in nursing?

Sometimes mental health nurses are the only person they have to listen to them and take their illness seriously, which is why compassion is key. It’s always at the forefront of what nurses do.

Why is it important to leave your own world at the front door?

Leaving your own world at the front door, and just being there in the moment with a patient encourages openness and mutual trust. These small acts impact on a patient’s emotional responses and their view of the care they are to receive.

How to help a patient with mental illness?

Accepting differences and finding things in common help you relate to a patient/person, and what they might be going through. You’ll be showing them a kindness they might not get elsewhere, and despite them being mentally unwell, they will appreciate and remember it.

Why are people more creative and agile?

Are more creative and agile at work - studies have found that the feelings of authenticity, vitality and concentration created by developing strengths help people to better adapt to change, engage in more creative and proactive behaviors, pay more attention to detail, and work harder.

What does it mean to be satisfied with your life?

Feel more satisfied with their lives - studies have found individuals who are satisfied with life are good problems-solvers, show better work performance, tend to be more resistant to stress and experience better physical health .

Why is it important to focus on people's strengths?

And managers who focus on people’s strengths experience improved team performance and greater success. Studies have found that leaders who focus on the strengths of employees benefit from lower levels of staff turnover, higher levels of productivity, more satisfied customers, and greater profitability.

Why is character strength important?

Feel healthier and have more energy — studies have found that greater endorsement of character strengths is associated with a number of healthy behaviors including leading an active life, pursuing enjoyable activities, and eating well.

Is developing your strengths a requirement?

Developing our strengths wasn’t a requirement mentioned in any of our job descriptions, but by finding small ways each day to do what we did best we were able to start feeling more engaged and energized about this dreaded project.

Do happier people have better mental health?

Are happier — studies have found they report lower levels of depression, higher levels of vitality, and good mental health.