Intervention and supervision in strengths-based social work practice

Building social work practice on a foundation of client strengths is a classic theme that is currently the subject of renewed attention within the profession. Through the years, the literature on social work supervision has periodically proposed building supervision on a foundation of practitioners' achievements. This article will explore the commonality of these two themes: intervention based on strengths (rather than pathology) and supervision based on achievements (rather than problems). The pursuit of an integrative strengths-based intervention/supervision paradigm can contribute to the development of a positive, innovative vision of direct practice, a vision congruent with historic social work values, relevant to working with social work's clientele, and distinct from the other helping professions. This article will develop this theme and explore its implications for the profession.