What distinguishes a need from a strength in a strengths-based counseling approach?

• A. A need identifies a problem or gap; a strength highlights resources and resilience to build interventions.
• B. A need is a resource; a strength is a problem.
• C. A need and a strength are the same concept.
• D. A need is about feelings; a strength is about finances.

Answer: (A)

In strengths-based counseling, the key idea is to focus on what a person can use to move forward. A need signals a problem or gap that needs to be addressed to reach a goal. A strength signals a resource, skill, or positive attribute that can be drawn on to overcome that gap and guide the intervention. For example, if transportation to appointments is a barrier (a need), you would look for ways to leverage the person’s problem-solving abilities, supportive relationships, or community resources (strengths) to make a plan work. This is why the best answer describes a need as a problem or gap and a strength as a resource and resilience to build interventions. The other options either reverse the concepts, claim they’re the same, or restrict them to one domain like feelings or finances, which doesn’t fit how strengths-based work views needs and strengths.