In comparing the strengths perspective vs. the disease orientation, the author seems to have the pragmatic stance of a social worker, regarding self-cutting behaviors, recognizing that you need to meet young patients where they are if you are going to get them the help that they need. This approach is the "ecological perspective," where the patient has the ability to resolve his/her/their own problems and actualize their own goals/needs. The strengths perspective encourages patients to identify/validate unpleasant feelings that they are having in a more constructive way while also creating better facilitation of communication pathways within their microsystem. Alternatively, in the disease orientation model, the client is labeled more as a "problem." There seems to be an underlying assumption that the patient is “broken,” which then inevitably must become internalized, perpetuating a cycle of distress etc. In the Strengths perspective, by creating transparency and trust with the patient, the clinician helps the patient find their strengths and potential (which is always assumed to be possible, no matter how bad the situation may be.)
As a side note, I could not believe that the actual study in Hong Kong involved such a young group of children (8-9 year-olds!) In reading this, I noted that the peak incidence of self-cutting is 16-25 years old, but it was still very alarming to read how common this behavior is among children so young globally, as a form of various expression (eg affect regulation, dissociation, etc).