Strength-Based

A 16-year-old adolescent recently placed in foster care with a history of trauma, school difficulties, and low self-esteem. They initially describe themselves as “a lost cause” and were hesitant to engage in therapy. When this teen first started therapy, they focused heavily on what was wrong: poor grades, conflict with caregivers, a sense of hopelessness. Rather than starting with symptom-focused language, I shifted the lens and asked: “Tell me about a time you felt proud of something—even if it seems small.” They paused, then hesitantly described teaching themselves how to fix a bike chain. That one story became the foundation for uncovering a powerful strength: problem-solving under pressure. “That shows resourcefulness and persistence. Not everyone would try again after the chain slipped the first time. That tells me something about who you are.” I replied. That moment opened the door for deeper work. Over time, we explored: Resilience: surviving multiple moves and still showing up to school, empathy: taking care of younger siblings in difficult circumstances, creativity: writing lyrics to process emotions. Together, we created a "Strengths Map" they added to throughout our sessions—a visual reminder that they had value beyond their trauma.