Therapeutic Focus on Strengths is Associated with Improved Functioning and Higher Clinical Progress in Children's Public Mental Health Care.

Abstract

Prior findings suggest a greater therapeutic focus on strengths is associated with a higher likelihood of successful treatment discharge in youth public mental health treatment. To build upon previous research, the present study examined whether and to what extent therapeutic focus on strengths was associated with changes in day-to-day functioning and treatment progress over the course of therapy. This study used multilevel modeling techniques to analyze 12 consecutive years of standardized routine clinical service data from a public mental health care system which served youth and families who were typically from underserved and low-income backgrounds. The sample comprised 2362 youth with an average age of 13.51 (2.9 SD) years receiving at least 3 months of standards-based intensive in-home (SB-IIH) treatment services. Most youth in the sample identified as multi-ethnic (62.5%) and male (61%). Therapeutic focus on strengths was measured as a proportion of overall treatment targets endorsed by therapists. A greater focus on strengths during the first 5 months of SB-IIH services was a significant predictor of improved functioning at the end of treatment and higher average monthly scores on a measure of treatment progress even after accounting for other predictors, including level of impairment at treatment start. Practice-based findings suggest a greater focus on strengths in youth treatment services might be beneficial in improving functioning and treatment progress. Study findings highlight the need for further research in other clinical youth samples. Clinical practice, dissemination, implementation, and future research implications are discussed.