This manual was developed as part of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Grant
DA08608, Cognitive Enhancements for the Treatment of Probationers (CETOP).
The Preparation for Change: The Tower of Strengths and the Weekly Planner training manual
and related maps, handouts, and any data collection forms may be used for personal, educational,
research, and /or information purposes. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce and distribute
copies of these materials (except reprinted passages from copyrighted sources) for nonprofit
educational and nonprofit library purposes, provided that copies are distributed at or below costs
and that credit for author and source are included on each copy. No material may be copied,
downloaded, stored in a retrieval system, or redistributed for any commercial purpose without
the express written permission of Texas Christian University.
For more information, please contact:
Institute of Behavioral Research
Texas Christian University
TCU Box 298740
Fort Worth, TX 76129
(817) 257-7226
(817) 257-7290 FAX
Email: ibr@tcu.edu
Web site: www.ibr.tcu.edu
ii
THE
STRENGTHS
CARDS
The following pages contain the master copies of the strength cards
(p.35-40). These pages should be used for making copies and then kept with
the manual so that additional sets of cards can be made in the future. There is
also a page of blank cards so that other strengths may be added to the deck
(p. 41). If it is not practical to use a deck of cards a list of the strengths are
also included. (p. 42). Below are examples of how the strength cards look
cut out.
LIKABLE S
ATHLETIC H
PRACTICAL T
PATIENT E
CURIOUS M
34
STRENGTHS FROM THE SOCIAL DIVISION OF SELF
(Print on red cardstock and cut on the dotted lines.)
Strengths from the social division of self help improve and maintain your interactions
and relationships with other people (e.g., level of comfort in social situations; ability
to make and keep friends).
COOPERATIVE S FRIENDLY S
LIKABLE S LOVES ANIMALS S
LOVES CHILDREN S LOYAL S
PEACEMAKER POLITE S
S
SENSITIVE TO THE
NEEDS OF OTHERS SINCERE S
S
35
STRENGTHS FROM THE THINKING DIVISION OF SELF
(Print on white cardstock and cut on the dotted lines.)
The strengths from the cognitive division of self deal with ways of thinking, learning, and
solving problems (e.g., ability to understand books and lectures; ability to come up with
creative solutions to problems).
ADAPTABLE T GOOD MEMORY T
GOOD AT PROBLEM
T IMAGINATIVE T
SOLVING
LOGICAL T ORGANIZED T
PRACTICAL T QUICK THINKING T
WILLING TO
SMART T LEARN T
36
STRENGTHS FROM THE HEALTH/PERFORMANCE DIVISION OF SELF
(Print on green cardstock and cut on the dotted lines)
Behavioral strengths refer to physical skills and talents (e.g., ability to play sports, dance,
etc.). Physical strengths refer to your health, strength, endurance, and energy level.
ARTISTIC H ATHLETIC H
FLEXIBLE/
ENERGETIC H H
LIMBER
GOOD
FUNNY H ENDURANCE H
HEALTHY H MUSICAL H
MECHANICAL H STRONG H
37
STRENGTHS FROM THE EMOTIONAL DIVISION OF SELF
(Print on yellow cardstock and cut on the dotted lines.)
Strengths from the emotional division of self deal with your ability to control and make
the best of your moods and feelings.
ABLE TO CONTROL ABLE TO EXPRESS E
E
TEMPER FEELINGS
CONTENTED/
ENTHUSIASTIC E E
INNER PEACE
GOOD SENSE
COOL HEADED E OF HUMOR E
HAPPY E PATIENT E
RELAXED E WARM HEARTED E
38
STRENGTHS
STRENGTHS FROM THE MOTIVATIONAL DIVISION OF SELF
(Print on blue cardstock and cut on the dotted lines.)
Motivational strengths deal with your wants and needs, and the determination to meet
them (e.g., ability to set and reach personal goals).
ADVENTUROUS M AMBITIOUS M
COMPETITIVE M CURIOUS M
DETERMINED M HARD WORKING M
INDEPENDENT M PERSISTENT M
WILLING TO
SPONTANEOUS M TAKE RISKS M
39
STRENGTHS FROM THE LIFE VIEW
DIVISION OF SELF
(Print on purple cardstock and cut on the dotted lines.)
Spiritual/philosophical strengths deal with morals, ethics, religion, your relationship with
a higher power, and life view (e.g., views of "right and wrong").
SPIRITUAL L ETHICAL L
FAIR L FORGIVING L
GENEROUS L HONEST L
OPTIMISTIC L RELIGIOUS L
BELIEVES IN WILLING TO
TAKE A STAND L
SELF L
40
BLANK STRENGTH CARDS
(Print on appropriate colored cardstock and cut on the dotted lines.)
If you want to add specific strengths to the deck or allow participants to add strengths to
the deck, use this blank card template.
41
THE "TOWER" STRENGTHS LIST
Social Strengths Cognitive Strengths
(printed on red cards) (printed on white cards)
Cooperative Adaptable
Friendly Good Memory
Likable Good at problem solving
Loves Animals Imaginative
Loves Children Logical
Loyal Organized
Peacemaker Practical
Polite Quick thinking
Sensitive to the needs of others Smart
Sincere Willing to learn
Behavioral/Physical Strengths Emotional Strengths
(printed on green cards) (printed on yellow cards)
Artistic Able to control temper
Athletic Able to express feelings
Energetic Enthusiastic
Flexible/limber Contented/inner peace
Funny Cool headed
Good endurance Good sense of humor
Healthy Happy
Mechanical Patient
Musical Relaxed
Strong Warm hearted
Motivational Strengths Spiritual/Philosophical Strengths
(printed on blue cards) (printed on purple cards)
Adventurous Believes in Self
Ambitious Ethical
Competitive Fair
Curious Forgiving
Determined Generous
Hard working Honest
Independent Optimistic
Persistent Religious
Spontaneous Spiritual
Willing to take risks Willing to take a stand
42
DISCUSSION TOPICS
FOR THE TOWER OF STRENGTHS
The following discussion topics have been used with The Tower of
Strengths. Feel free to create or modify the discussion questions to better
serve your clients.
43
THE TOWER OF STRENGTHS
DISCUSSION TOPICS
Existing Strengths Discussion Topics
• Name one of your strengths. How many other people also
named this strength? Discuss why it is important.
• Discuss how this strength has been helpful in the past.
• Can this strength be used in a new way to improve your current
situation?
• Is this strength always a strength or can it also be a problem?
"Parts of You" Discussion Topics
• Discuss the "parts of you" explanation sheet. Which part of you
is the strongest? Which part of you is the weakest?
Desired Strengths Discussion Topics
Name one of your desired strengths.
• Why do you want to develop this strength?
• What can you do to develop this strength?
• How difficult do you think it will be to develop?
44
THE TOWER OF STRENGTHS
FOLLOW-
FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION TOPICS
• How have your existing strengths helped you make
progress on one of your personal goals or desired
strengths?
• Which existing strength has been the most useful to
you? Why?
• What progress have you made on attaining a desired
strength?
• Which desired strength has been the most difficult to
attain?
45
