If there was聽ever a group who could benefit from聽a strengths-based approach to psycholgical well-being, it is people with disabilities. But, ironically, such individuals have been marginalized and stereotyped for decades. Michael Wehmeyer’s edited text,聽The Oxford Handbook of Positive Psychology and Disability,聽offers a welcomed shift.
In their聽笔蝉测肠颁搁滨罢滨蚕鲍贰厂听review of the book,聽听补苍诲听聽highlight the importance of bringing positive psychology approaches to both research studies and clinical practice with people with disabilities. They observe,
The contributions of positive psychology to professionals who work聽with individuals with disabilities are immense, as the paradigm shift from deficit-based to聽strengths-based models could significantly improve treatment outcomes as well as the聽general attitudes of society. (section Pitfalls and Limitations, para. 3)
What are the necessary ingredients for a practitioner to make this paradigm shift from a deficit-based to a strengths-based approach with individuals with disabilities? How can this be sustained? If a paradigm shift can be achieved with practitioners, could it聽eventually impact societal attitudes?
Is there any benefit to taking a deficit-based approach to people with disabilities? Can one still be a good clinician if one overlooks a strengths-based approach among people with disabilities?
What are the most important strengths to help people with disabilities capitalize on? Skill-based strengths, external strengths (e.g., resources), talents/abilities, character strengths…all of the above?
Read the Review
By聽Kara Ayers聽and Stephanie Weber
PsycCRITIQUES, 2014 Vol 59(12)
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