Integrates key techniques into current teaching and practice This text provides a framework for the synthesis of postmodern theories of counseling. The cutting-edge Strength Centered Counseling model can be incorporated effectively with the more traditional models of counseling, resolving the ambiguity about how postmodernism fits into every day practice and results in more direct application of knowledge and skill sets for training in counselor education. Authors Colin Ward and Teri Reuter offer a practical and straightforward resource that presents clients with opportunities to look at life not only from a context of problems and adversity; but also of solutions, strengths, and hope. Key Features Interactive learning experiences including Learning Activities (within chapters) and Professional Growth Activities (at the end of chapters) present throughout the text Clear direction for application of principles, techniques and interventions Counselor Interview and Reflection guides serve as both valuable as a learning tool and a structural guide for future sessions with clients This text is appropriate for counseling theories and counseling skills related courses in counseling, psychology, and related fields.

Combining both the theory and practice of strengths-based therapy, Elsie Jones-Smith introduces current and future practitioners to the modern approach of practice—presenting a model for treatment as well as demonstrations in clinical practice across a variety of settings. This highly effective form of therapy supports the idea that clients know best about what has worked and has not worked in their lives, helps them discover positive and effective solutions through their own experiences, and allows therapists to engage their clients in their own therapy. Drawing from cutting-edge research in neuroscience, positive emotions, empowerment, and change, Strengths-Based Therapy helps readers understand how to get their clients engaged as active participants in treatment.

Despite calls for a more preventive and developmental mode of functioning, school counseling has tended to be driven by a reactive and sometimes crisis orientation. Like social workers and school, counseling, and clinical psychologists, school counselors typically function to alleviate deficits, often in a small percentage of the students they serve. Although this orientation has served school counselors well in many instances, it is not empowering, it does not serve all students, and it does not replace those deficits with the type of positive characteristics and abilities that schools are attempting to develop. This is the first book to provide a comprehensive look at the theory, research, and intervention strategies that comprise a strengths-based, developmental approach to school counseling. In keeping with ASCA recommendations, the Strengths-Based School Counseling (SBSC) framework discusses academic, personal/social and career development outcomes for all students at the elementary, middle and secondary school levels. Other key features include: integrative framework SBSC builds upon contemporary research from a variety of areas: school counseling, developmental psychology, school psychology, education, positive psychology, resiliency, and social work. evidence-based interventions detailed examples of successful evidence-based interventions and environments are presented at the elementary, middle, and high school levels for each major developmental area (academic, personal/social, and career) identified in ASCA‘s National Model. readability and pedagogy beautifully written, the text includes lists of key points, tables of student strengths, illustrative examples, and student exercises.

"An eye-opening and heart-opening book." -Bonnie Benard, Senior Program Associate, WestEd Identify and promote overlooked strengths to cultivate resilience. Now more than ever, counselors, teachers, community youth workers, and parents are striving to prevent individual and school-wide tragedy before it happens. Critical to the success of their efforts is a deep respect for the adolescent experience. In this book, author and social worker Michael Ungar takes a fresh, hopeful approach to challenging youth by looking beyond the surface of "bad" behaviors to understand them as ways of coping with life′s adversities. Strengths-Based Counseling With At-Risk Youth provides the tools both to understand and access strengths buried beneath problem behaviors. It offers specific, effective strategies in working with adolescents to construct positive identities and realistic action plans. Features include Six strategies for youth engagement, covering common problem behaviors such as drug use, violence, delinquency, and promiscuity An entire chapter on bullying An abundance of real-life examples and counseling narratives A Resilient Youth Strengths Inventory to assess resilience and identify areas that need strengthening Sincere application of Ungar′s compassionate and open-minded strategies is sure to transform the lives of countless adolescents in need, and the institutions that serve them.

Strengths-Based Therapy: Distinctive Features offers an introduction to what is distinctive about this innovative client-directed approach. Written by two experienced practitioners of strengths-based therapies, this book translates SBT principles and practices into concise, evidence-based ideas and techniques that mental health practitioners can immediately apply on the job. Using the popular Distinctive Features format, this book describes 15 theoretical features and 15 practical techniques of Strengths-Based Therapy. Strengths-Based Therapy will be a valuable resource for psychotherapists, clinical, health and counselling psychologists, counsellors, psychiatrists, marriage and family therapists, social workers, and all who wish to know more about this unique approach to therapy.

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Culturally Diverse Counseling: Theory and Practice adopts a unique strengths-based approach in teaching students to focus on the positive attributes of individual clients and incorporate those strengths, along with other essential cultural considerations, into their diagnosis and treatment. With an emphasis on strengths as recommended in the 2017 multicultural guidelines set forth by the American Psychological Association (APA), this comprehensive text includes considerations for clinical practice with twelve groups, including older adults, immigrants and refugees, clients with disabilities, and multiracial clients. Each chapter includes practical guidelines for counselors, including opportunities for students to identify and curb their own implicit and explicit biases. A final chapter on social class, social justice, intersectionality, and privilege reminds readers of the various factors they must consider when working with clients of all backgrounds.