Therapy isn’t just about working through what’s hard—it can also be about discovering what’s already strong in you. A strengths-based approach shifts the focus from “what’s wrong with me?” to “what’s right with me, and how can I use that to grow?”

This style of therapy is all about identifying the qualities, skills, and tools you already have (even if you don’t realize it yet) and using them to support change. Instead of just focusing on symptoms or struggles, we look at your resilience, creativity, values, past successes, and what helps you feel like you.

Here’s how it might show up in a session:

·       We talk about how you’ve gotten through tough times before and what helped

·       We highlight things you’re naturally good at—like being thoughtful, resourceful, or persistent

·       We use your strengths as a starting point to tackle the things that feel overwhelming

This approach works well for people who feel stuck, discouraged, or unsure where to start. It’s especially helpful for anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, or just day-to-day stress that’s starting to feel like too much.

In my practice, I use strengths-based tools with kids, teens, and adults. Sometimes it’s pointing out a child’s natural empathy or helping a teen see that their sense of humor is actually a powerful coping skill. It’s amazing how things begin to shift when we start from a place of “what’s working.”

If you’re curious about therapy but hesitant because it sounds too heavy or negative, this could be a more uplifting, empowering place to begin. I offer free 15-minute consults to help you explore if it’s the right fit.

Sometimes, the path forward starts by recognizing the strengths you didn’t even know you had.