Strengths based practice is a social work

Social work

Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...

 practice theory

Theory

The English word theory was derived from a technical term in Ancient Greek philosophy. The word theoria, , meant "a looking at, viewing, beholding", and referring to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action...

 that emphasizes people's self determination and strengths. Strengths based practice is client led, with a focus on future outcomes and strengths that the people bring to a problem or crisis. A proto-theorist for this practice was social worker Bertha Reynolds

Bertha Reynolds

Bertha Capen Reynolds, born in Stoughton, Massachusetts, was an American Social Worker who was influential in the creation of Strength Based Practice, Radical social work and Critical social work, among others.-Life:...

, who criticised the American social work tendency to adopt a psychoanalytic approach (and the corollary dependence on the DSM IV) with clients. It was formally developed by a team from the University of Kansas

University of Kansas

The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...

, including Dennis Saleebey

Dennis Saleebey

Dennis Saleebey is an American academic credited with codifying and promoting the social work practice of Strength Based Practice during his time at the University of Kansas, where he is Emeritus Professor of Social Welfare at the School of Social Welfare....

, Charles Rapp & Anne Weick.