Developing discrepancy worksheet
Are you a therapist looking for a list of strengths? You’re in the right place.
This article provides an overview of client strengths and discusses the benefits of reviewing a strengths list as part of treatment.
We’ve also included a free downloadable strengths list worksheet that you can save to your electronic health record (EHR) and use with clients.
What are strengths?
Strengths are positively valued personality traits such as hope, kindness, open-mindedness, and empathy, which can manifest in a range of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
Popular in the field of positive psychology, research shows that possessing character strengths is correlated with:
Enhanced self-esteem
Well-being
Positive affect
Fulfillment
Life satisfaction
Happiness
Quality of life
Vitality
Positive functioning
Work engagement
Meaningfulness
More positive relationships
Using strengths as an intervention has also been beneficial. Research found that when study participants were asked to use one of their top five strengths in a new way over one week, they experienced significant benefits in well-being, decreases in depressive symptoms, and increases in happiness.
How to use a strengths-based approach with clients
Many therapists utilize a strengths-based approach with clients, which can help to build self-esteem and confidence, and also help clients to reframe their challenges in a more affirming way.
This approach can boost therapy engagement and encourage clients to find meaning and purpose in what matters most to them.
Strengths-based interventions also help clients develop a more positive identity and self-narrative, moving from victim-based stories to describing qualities such as being strong and resilient.
Initially, however, clients may struggle with identifying their strengths, which is where using prompts and a strengths list can be helpful.
Clients might consider:
Qualities that they like about themselves
How their closest friends would describe their strengths
Tasks or hobbies they enjoy doing
When they have felt pride
What helped them get through difficult times
What gives their life purpose and meaning
How they handle situations when feeling overwhelmed
Specific coping strategies or skills that help them to feel calm or grounded
The following prompts may be helpful to use during the session:
Describe a win (big or small) that you experienced recently.
What traits do you appreciate in others?
What skills or traits have helped you adapt to change?
What are you doing now that you couldn’t have imagined a year ago?
What kind of person do you want to be, and what strengths already reflect that?
List of strengths
Below is a list of strengths organized by specific skills. This list may be helpful when reviewing a list of client strengths in therapy.
Character strengths
Authentic
Honesty
Kindness
Integrity
Courage
Loyalty
Patience
Fairness
Compassion
Hope
Gratitude
Humility
Perseverance
Responsibility
Forgiveness
Self-control
Cognitive strengths
Problem-solving
Critical thinking
Creativity
Curiosity
Open-
mindedness
Attention to detail
Logical reasoning
Quick learning
Memory
Intuition
Strategic thinking
Innovation
Interpersonal strengths
Empathy
Active listening
Communication
Conflict resolution
Collaboration
Leadership
Persuasion
Teamwork
Emotional intelligence
Boundary-setting
Respectfulness
Diplomacy
Resilience & coping strengths
Stress tolerance
Adaptability
Optimism
Tenacity
Industriousness
Self-awareness
Grit
Self-motivation
Acceptance
Goal-setting
Self-discipline
Resourcefulness
Willingness to seek help
Mindfulness
Zest
Work & productivity strengths
Time management
Organization
Initiative
Accountability
Decision-making
Focus
Multitasking
Follow-through
Precision
Dedication
Planning
Efficiency
Values-based strengths
Justice
Altruism
Respect for diversity
Environmental consciousness
Spirituality or faith
Service to others
Community involvement
Ambition
Vision
Balance
We’ve included this list in our downloadable list of personal strengths PDF as well.
How to use the strengths list with clients
You can download and use the list of strengths in several ways.
For example, you can print or screen share the strengths list worksheet and use it as a session psychoeducational prompt.
Give the worksheet to the client to remind them of what you discussed during therapy. Ask them to reflect on the strengths list between sessions, consider their own strengths, and discuss their findings at their next therapy appointment.
Lastly, consider using the list of strengths handout as part of supervision, training, or case consultation.
Sources
American Psychological Association. (2018). Character strength.
American Psychological Association. (2018). Positive psychology.
Niemiec, R. M., & Pearce, R. (2021). The Practice of Character Strengths: Unifying Definitions, Principles, and Exploration of What's Soaring, Emerging, and Ripe With Potential in Science and in Practice. Frontiers in psychology.
Seligman, M. E. P., Steen, T. A., Park, N., & Peterson, C. (2005). Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions. American Psychologist.
Zhang, Y., & Chen, M. (2018). Character Strengths, Strengths Use, Future Self-Continuity and Subjective Well-Being Among Chinese University Students. Frontiers in psychology.
How SimplePractice streamlines running your practice
SimplePractice is HIPAA-compliant practice management software with everything you need to run your practice built into the platform—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing.
If you’ve been considering switching to an EHR system, SimplePractice empowers you to run a fully paperless practice—so you get more time for the things that matter most to you.
Try SimplePractice free for 30 days. No credit card required.
