What is Strengths Worksheet?
Solution-focused therapy is a brief form of psychotherapy developed in the late 1970s and 1980s by Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg that focuses on helping clients identify goals and practical solutions rather than analyzing problems. Strengths-based therapy is a type of positive psychotherapy and counseling that focuses on your internal strengths and resourcefulness, rather than on your weaknesses, failures, and shortcomings.
This worksheet contains three sections. Clients first identify their character strengths—strengths such as curiosity, kindness, bravery, perseverance, hope, gratitude, teamwork, humility, and fairness—by reflecting on moments when they felt most engaged or proud. They then explore how these strengths show up in their daily life and consider concrete ways to use them more intentionally to address the challenges they face.
How therapists use it
Introduce this worksheet when a client is ready to shift focus from what's difficult to what's already working. You might say: "I'd like to spend some time identifying your strengths—the qualities that show up consistently in how you think, feel, and act. Understanding these can help us build on what you already do well." After the client completes the worksheet, review their responses together. Ask how they might apply one or two of these strengths to a current challenge. A strength-based approach shifts the focus toward resilience, personal capabilities, and existing coping skills, helping clients see themselves as active agents in their healing journey.
Who it's for
High confidence in evidence of effectiveness was established for depression, overall mental health, and progress towards individual goals for the adult population. The strength-based approach allows practitioners to acknowledge that every individual has a unique set of strengths and abilities so that he/she can rely on them to overcome problems. This worksheet suits clients with anxiety or depression who benefit from a forward-focused, capability-centered approach. It works well alongside other treatments and is particularly useful for clients who have become stuck in problem-focused thinking. It may be less helpful for clients in acute crisis or those who need immediate symptom relief before exploring strengths.
What clients see
The client reflects on moments when they felt most engaged, proud, or fulfilled, and identifies the strengths at play in those moments. They then describe how these strengths show up in their daily life and brainstorm one or two concrete ways to use them more deliberately to address a current challenge.
Modality fit
Solution-focused therapy focuses on addressing what clients want to achieve without exploring the history and provenance of problem(s). This worksheet embodies that principle by directing attention to what the client does well and how to build on it, rather than analyzing the origins or details of their difficulties.
Strengths-based therapy focuses on identifying and leveraging an individual's inherent strengths to foster personal growth and resilience. The worksheet guides clients through systematic identification of their character strengths and practical application of those strengths to current challenges.
Common questions
When should I use this worksheet with a client?
Use it when a client is ready to shift from problem-focused thinking to capability-focused thinking. It works well mid-treatment or when a client feels stuck. Avoid it during acute crisis when immediate symptom relief takes priority.
How does identifying strengths help with anxiety or depression?
A strength-based approach shifts the focus toward resilience, personal capabilities, and existing coping skills, helping clients see themselves as active agents in their healing journey. By integrating this framework into anxiety treatment, therapists can empower clients to build confidence, reframe challenges, and cultivate lasting emotional well-being.
What if a client struggles to identify their strengths?
Ask about moments when they felt most engaged, proud, or helpful to others. Reflect back what you observe in their coping efforts and resilience. Sometimes strengths are hidden in what clients see as flaws—for example, conscientiousness can underlie worry, or empathy can underlie self-sacrifice.
Can this worksheet be used with other treatments?
Yes. A strengths-based approach is often paired with other methods and interventions to support clients in meeting their individual treatment goals. It complements CBT, DBT, and other modalities.