Development and Initial Validation of the Therapist Hope for Clients Scale

Abstract

Hope is a critical component of therapeutic change. However, hope does not singularly emanate from clients. Therapists’ hope for their clients represents a specific therapeutic factor that may impact clinical outcomes. Currently no measure exists to assess the uniqueness of therapist’s hope in therapy with specific clients. Our purpose in this study was to develop and initially validate the Therapist Hope for Clients Scale (THCS). Participants ( N = 380) completed the THCS, plus four additional measures to assess therapists’ use of clients’ strengths, self-efficacy in helping skills, working alliance with individual clients, and a general measure of hope. We subjected the THCS to parallel analysis, factor analyses, reliability testing, and validity testing. These steps led to the development of a 10-item measure. THCS scores were positively related to therapists’ use of clients’ strengths, helping skills, self-efficacy, and working alliance. Implications of the THCS are discussed.