ABSTRACT
The concept of resilience has become increasingly mainstream in mental health culture over the past two decades. Academic programs and departments focused on resilience, post-traumatic growth, and positive psychology have grown in number, size and reach, and mental health groups are more likely to take a “strength-based” approach than ever. As we make the transition, as a field and as a society, from the question “what’s wrong?” to “what happened?” the next logical question to ask is “what helps?” Supporting clients in moving from expired coping mechanisms, ones that served an adaptive function in the past but are causing pain or discomfort in the present, necessitates a perspective of resilience and a deep belief in their capacity to heal.
