Building Our Strengths

A Strengths-Based Workshop Series for Healthcare Professionals

Build confidence, connection, and clinical effectiveness by learning to work from what’s strong — not just what’s wrong.

Why a Strengths-Based Approach?

A strengths-based approach focuses on identifying and intentionally using what individuals and teams already do well, rather than focusing exclusively on problems or deficits.

Research in positive psychology suggests that strengths-based approaches are associated with:

  • Increased engagement and motivation

  • Greater resilience and well-being

  • Improved performance and learning

  • Stronger relationships and collaboration

In healthcare settings, a strengths-based approach:

  • Supports clinician well-being and professional growth

  • Enhances patient engagement and confidence

  • Builds shared language and cohesion within teams

  • Aligns with organizational priorities related to staff engagement and retention

This Workshop Series Will Help You…

  • Build self-awareness

    Understand your unique character strengths and how they shape your clinical style, decision-making, and interactions.

  • Work more intentionally

    Learn how to apply strengths in everyday clinical practice to support patient engagement, behaviour change, and deliver whole-person care.

  • Strengthen connection and teamwork

    Develop a shared, non-deficit-based language that supports collaboration and psychological safety.

Session 1: Understanding Strengths in Healthcare Practice

What are character strengths — and why do they matter in clinical care?

  • Introduction to character strengths and strengths-based practice

  • Research evidence supporting strengths-based approaches in healthcare

  • Reflection on personal strengths and clinical identity

  • Establishing a shared strengths-based language

Session 2: Using Strengths to Support Clinician Well-Being

Applying strengths to sustain yourself in emotionally demanding work

  • How strengths support energy, resilience, and emotional regulation

  • Recognizing overuse and underuse of strengths in practice

  • Practical strategies for applying strengths in daily work

  • Guided reflection and discussion

Session 3: Strengths-Based Conversations with Patients and Teams

Enhancing engagement, motivation, and connection

  • Identifying strengths in patients to support confidence and behaviour change

  • Using strengths-based language in clinical conversations

  • Applying strengths to teamwork and collaboration

  • Integrating strengths into everyday practice

Pre-Series Reflection & Assessment

Participants complete the VIA Character Strengths Survey, a research-validated assessment used internationally to support strengths-based development.

This assessment helps participants:

  • Build self-awareness before the first session

  • Ground learning in personal and professional context

  • Engage more deeply during the workshop series

Registration Details


Who should register: physiotherapists, allied health, rehabilitation assistants, who are interested in applying positive psychology principles and strengths-based communication skills into clinical practice 

Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Program length: 2 weeks

Cohort size: 6-8 participants

Upcoming dates:
The next cohort for the workshop series is scheduled to start in Fall 2026. If you wish to be placed on the waiting list to be in next cohort, please complete the form below and we will notify you once registration opens.