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. 2020 Dec 21;10(3):166-171.
doi: 10.2174/2210676610666200225105529.

Accentuate the Positive: Strengths-Based Therapy for Adolescents

Eunice Yuen  1 , Julie Sadhu  2 , Cynthia Pfeffer  3 , Barry Sarvet  4 , R Susan Daily  5 , Jonathan Dowben  6 , Kamilah Jackson  7 , John Schowalter  1 , Theodore Shapiro  3 , Dorothy Stubbe  1 ; Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry (GAP) Child Committee
Affiliations

Accentuate the Positive: Strengths-Based Therapy for Adolescents

Eunice Yuen et al. Adolesc Psychiatry (Hilversum). .

Abstract

Purpose: The field of psychiatry has conventionally employed a medical model in which mental health disorders are diagnosed and treated. However, the evidence is amassing that using a strengths-based approach that promotes wellness by engaging the patient's assets and interests may work in synergy with the medical model to promote recovery. This harmonizes with the patient-centered care model that has been promoted by the Institute of Medicine.

Methods: The article uses a clinical case to highlight the attributes of a strength-based model in the psychiatric treatment of adolescents.

Results: Outcome metrics from a number of studies have demonstrated enhanced youth and parent satisfaction and decreased use of hospital level of care with the implementation of strengths-based therapeutic modalities.

Implications: Incorporating strengths-based interventions into conventional psychiatric practice provides a multi-faceted treatment approach that promotes recovery in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders.

Keywords: Strengths-based; adolescent psychiatry; health promotion; patient-centered care; positive psychology.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST Julie Sadhu received book royalties from the American Psychiatric Association Publishing for the Concise Guide to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 5th Edition. All other authors declare they have no biomedical or financial conflicts of interest relevant to this work.

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