Experience Summary

This immersive 360° video is designed for you to experience Paula's story. She is a lady living in a low income setting, suffering from mental health illness. Observe how a home visit from pest control leads to a caring conversation. This is part of the Strengths-Based Approach to holistic and multidisciplinary care.

The strengths-based approach to clinical communication focuses on identifying, acknowledging, and building upon a patient’s existing skills, resources, and positive attributes. Rather than centring discussions solely on illness, deficits, or limitations, this approach highlights what the patient can do, their achievements, support systems, and internal resilience. It is widely recognised in healthcare as an effective tool for enhancing patient engagement, improving therapeutic relationships, and supporting patient-centred care.

Efficacy of the Strengths-Based Approach

Evidence suggests that using a strengths-based communication style fosters greater patient empowerment and confidence. It enhances motivation for behaviour change, particularly in the management of chronic conditions, mental health, and rehabilitation. Patients who feel their strengths and contributions are acknowledged are more likely to engage actively in their care plans and demonstrate improved adherence to treatment.

Moreover, this approach has been shown to reduce feelings of helplessness and anxiety, often experienced by patients in healthcare settings. By reinforcing positive coping mechanisms and highlighting personal achievements, clinicians help patients recognise their capacity to overcome challenges, promoting psychological wellbeing and resilience.

From a clinician’s perspective, the strengths-based approach contributes to more meaningful, solution-focused conversations. It can reduce frustration and burnout by shifting focus from problems to possibilities, fostering optimism in challenging clinical scenarios.

Use in Clinical Communication

The strengths-based approach is applied across various healthcare settings, including primary care, mental health, palliative care, and physiotherapy. Key principles include:

• Active Listening: Understanding the patient’s story, values, and personal strengths.
• Positive Language: Using language that emphasises ability rather than disability.
• Goal Setting: Collaborating with the patient to set achievable, meaningful goals based on their strengths.
• Empowerment: Encouraging patients to take ownership of their health decisions by reinforcing their competence and resources.
• Building Trust: Demonstrating respect for the patient’s lived experience and personal knowledge of their condition.

An example in practice is during health promotion, where instead of focusing on past failures (e.g., failed smoking cessation attempts), clinicians highlight the patient's previous successes and coping strategies, fostering hope and self-efficacy.

Learning Outcomes

1. Observe the communication skills used during a community visit.
2. Understand the difficulties individuals may face living in a low income setting with the challenge of mental health conditions.
3. Observe the Strengths-Based Approach in action.

External Resources

• Strengths based approach