The California Psychotherapy Alliance Scales: a pilot study of dimensions and elements

The reliability and clinical utility of the rater form of the California Psychotherapy Alliance Scales (CALPAS-R) was investigated on a sample of 12 one-hour audiotapes representing differing therapeutic dyads and sampled from sessions two to six of a relationship-oriented (exploratory) therapy within pilot cases of a large outcome study. Both global dimensions and element-based ratings were used to test the feasibility of employing the elements as a way of obtaining a finer-grained analysis of the therapeutic alliance. Results are reported in terms of the interrater reliability of the dimensions and elements, and show element ratings to yield dimensional measures similar or superior to global ratings in reliability. In addition, CALPAS-R ratings were analysed in conjunction with client ratings of session depth and smoothness as well as helpfulness.