The Implementation of Strengths-Based Counseling to Enhance Self-Confidence and Mental Health among Senior High School Students : A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This study explores the effectiveness of implementing Strengths-Based Counseling (SBC) as a school-based intervention to enhance self-confidence and mental health in high school students. Adolescents often face various academic and social pressures that may negatively impact their psychological well-being and belief in their own abilities. In response to these challenges, SBC offers a positive, solution-oriented counseling approach that focuses on identifying and developing individual strengths, personal resources, and resilience rather than emphasizing problems or deficits. Pre- and post-tests were administered to both the experimental and control groups as part of the study's quasi-experimental methodology. Students with moderate to low levels of self-confidence and mental health as determined by standardized psychological tests were chosen to participate. The intervention was delivered in the form of structured group counseling sessions, conducted once a week over the course of one month. Each session focused on key elements of SBC, including strength identification, goal setting, future visualization, and the use of empowering language. Two psychological measures, one tailored to adolescents and the other to general populations, were used to gather data: a self-confidence scale and a mental health inventory. Experimental group participants showed statistically significant gains in self-confidence and mental health ratings when compared to control group participants, according to quantitative analysis utilizing paired-sample and independent-sample t-tests. In addition, qualitative observations during the counseling sessions indicated increased student participation, optimism, and interpersonal support among peers. The findings suggest that Strengths-Based Counseling can be a powerful and practical method for school counselors and educators to support students’ emotional and psychological development. By helping students focus on their abilities and what works in their lives, SBC can foster a more positive self-concept, better coping strategies, and a healthier school climate overall.