Mapping Strength-Based Counseling Models And Interventions For Student Mental Health

Abstract

Mental health issues among adolescents, particularly students, are increasingly complex and widespread, ranging from academic stress, low self-esteem, and social anxiety to more severe conditions such as depression, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation. Although these challenges have been well-documented globally, many school-based interventions are still based on problem-oriented, rather than potential-focused counseling models. Strengths-Based Counseling (SBC) offers a paradigm shift by emphasizing students' internal strengths, resilience, cultural identity, and capacity for growth. Rooted in positive psychology and humanistic principles, SBC aims to empower students as active agents in their healing and development. However, its implementation in educational contexts remains fragmented and under-researched. This article seeks to map and critically analyze existing strengths-based counseling models and interventions to support student mental health and to advocate for a more holistic, proactive, and empowering approach to school counseling practice. This study employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) design, drawing on four databases: Springer Link, Sage Journals, Science Direct, and Taylor & Francis. Specifically, inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined in this SLR to produce quality findings to answer the research question, which was to determine which strengths-based counseling models and interventions can be applied to support the mental health of students and adolescents. After a comprehensive study selection process, fifteen articles were identified as eligible for use in this study. The research findings indicate several effective strengths-based counseling models and interventions that can support students' mental health and holistic psychological well-being.