Strength based counselling sees people as having capabilities and resources within themselves and their communities. It builds on client strengths to help persons address their concerns and achieve the changes they seek. The unit will develop the philosophy and principles for these approaches informed by a Christian worldview as well as provide experiences that enable students to facilitate change through respectful counselling processes and practices that encourage and empower clients. These include strength-based practices such as constructing conversations for change, exceptions and differences, identifying and amplifying solution patterns, building on progress and change. Topics: 1. Introduction to strength-based counselling and collaborative approaches 2. Theoretical principles 3. Creating collaborative relationships 4. Solution focused Therapy 5. Developing preferred futures 6. Evoking resources and building capacity 7. Amplifying change and therapeutic tasks 8. Narrative therapy 9. Externalising and deconstruction 10. Re-authoring conversations 11. Collaborative helping maps 12. Outsider witnesses and team based practices