Toward a science of healing: Advantages of multidimensional, strengths-based approaches to resilience.

OBJECTIVE: This special issue is devoted to broadening our understanding of resilience by emphasizing its multidimensionality. Many early conceptualizations of resilience narrowly emphasized toughness and determination. In contrast, multidimensional models consider resilience to be the process of harnessing a range of individual assets and external resources to thrive despite exposure to trauma and adversity. These assets and resources are not limited to individual toughness but include a variety of personal characteristics as well as resources in the broader human ecology. Multidimensional approaches have several advantages, including that they recognize variation among individuals and communities, encourage the discovery and examination of underappreciated strengths, help us identify which strengths matter most for overcoming trauma, and transform interventions. METHOD: We solicited articles that relied on a multidimensional theoretical model and included at least two strengths. RESULTS: The articles in this special issue embody the advantages of multidimensional approaches to resilience in varying ways. Multidimensional models help us see and validate that there is no "one right way" to do resilience. CONCLUSIONS: To advance resilience science, we need to understand what strengths are most helpful for overcoming trauma. This special issue offers a step in this direction. Multidimensional approaches to resilience can inspire new research and guide psychotherapists and other providers to more impactful interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).