A hands-on tool to support good life choices
Choosing Strengths is an essential resource that includes 36 cards and booklet to inspire conversations around personal strengths. Each card is designed to help individuals view themselves as resourceful and resilient in the face of adversity.
Understanding and valuing our personal strengths is a way for us all to navigate the ups and downs of everyday life. Our strengths are more than the personality or qualities we inherit, the resources we gather, or even the skills we acquire.
This beautifully illustrated set supports a broader understanding of our individual strengths and reinforces the idea that the way we view ourselves is a choice that can impact our quality of life.
Choosing Strengths enables users to identify and communicate their potential strengths and how to focus on, and develop them.
This toolkit is founded on the tradition of choice theory and strengths-based practice – making it a vital addition for practitioners wanting to support people’s self-determination.
NEW! With every card set purchased, you now get exclusive access to an online Toolbox of extras.
The Toolbox includes:
- a digital version of the booklet.
- access to a digital set of the cards that you can download and use anywhere, anytime.
- ideas banks, blogs, card hack videos, interviews and other support material.
We are adding and updating the Toolbox content regularly so check in to see what’s new.
**Look for the download link for the QR code in your order confirmation email.
Suitable for:
- Counselling
- Therapeutic settings
- Social work
- Youth services
- Child and Family services
- Schools
- Parents
- Teen and young adults
Additional resources:
Published by Innovative Resources
36 laminated, full-colour cards and booklet 200mm x 120mm
Presented in a polypropylene box
ISBN: 978 1 920945 68 8
Authors: Russell Deal with Karen Bedford
Designer and photographer: Tim Lane
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Stories and Reviews
Using Choosing Strengths in government departments
‘Wanted to share my joy in using the Choosing Strengths card set with some staff who are in charge of assessing and approving government aid. Often these officers are seen to be hard-nosed and inflexible about how they administer the guidelines for assistance schemes.
I decided to use the Choosing Strengths cards to get them to think about how they were approaching their clients. So got them in pairs and dished out a random card to each. Partners were asked to share how they could use and apply the strengths they held in their hands. I was not sure how it would turn out, but the activity brought the energy up and made participants more open to seeing and positioning themselves differently in relation to their clients.’
– Social worker, trainer and educator
Strengths in special schools
I’m a Christian Pastoral Support Worker (Chaplain) at an R-12+ school for around 70 children and young people with intellectual disabilities. The students have a range of disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. They face challenges every day and some struggle to do things that we all take for granted such as walking, talking and even eating.
We find that a lot of our students begin to struggle emotionally as they enter their teenage years and become aware of their disabilities. They begin to understand that their lives may be very different from their peers, they may not be able to get a job without support, or drive a car, or live independently. We have a high rate of depression and anxiety amongst our teenagers.
I would use the Choosing Strengths cards in small groups to help students to understand that they do have choices; that they do not have to be defined by their disability, that they do have some control over their lives and how the choices they make every day can make a difference to their quality of life.
– Lesley Heinrich, South Australia
