In its history, professional social work has long given at least lip service to the idea of building on client strengths as a part of the helping enterprise. This article provides an overview of the strengths approach to practice as it has evolved in social work and how that method and style might be applied by school counselors in their work with students and teachers. Some examples are presented including the use of a strengths approach in an economically distressed community and in a school facing real difficulties in assuring students' achievement and involvement in school.