Yvonne (The Intentional Learner) smiling and holding a mug, standing in a cozy room with a sideboard, houseplants, and decorative wall shelves.

"Hi, I’m Yvonne.”

A teacher of 17 years, a wellbeing & mental health promoter and coaching trained.


I created The Strengths Advantage because young people deserve confidence, self-awareness, and direction built from what’s already strong in them.

“When young people see what’s strong in them they find their own way forward!”

A Strengths-Based Approach

Strong foundations. Clear direction. A steadier way forward.

I created  The Strengths Advantage  for 5th and 6th year students with one clear belief: every young person has strengths. And when those strengths are noticed and practiced, we grow in confidence, handle pressure better, and move more steadily towards what we’re capable of.

My approach is shaped by years of working with young people, and by a simple idea: real growth isn’t about piling more on, it’s about uncovering what’s already exists and learning how to use it.

The Strengths Advantage  is rooted in positive psychology and delivered through strengths-based mentoring. Together, we identify strengths and turn them into practical supports for everyday school life from exams and stress, to motivation, and big decisions.

The senior cycle years are also about shaping a future. When our foundations feel steadier (self-belief, connection and inner confidence) it becomes easier to raise our sails and steer towards what matters. 

In other words, when we know what’s strong within us, we can face the pressure and still move forward with purpose.

Diagram of a boat with a sail, floating on water, illustrating the different levels of personal development. The sail is divided into levels labeled Purpose, Love, Exploration, and Growth. The hull contains levels labeled Safety, Connection, and Self-Esteem. There are two smaller boats on either side of the larger boat. The background is blue with the words Transcendence at the top and Security at the bottom left.

Original research (Scott Barry Kaufman)                    Illustration by Andy Ogden