Helping Alliance Questionnaire [HAQ-38]

Questionnaire Description

The Helping Alliance Questionnaire (HAQ-38) is an assessment instrument designed to evaluate the quality of the therapeutic alliance established between a healthcare or mental health professional and the individual receiving therapeutic or supportive care. The therapeutic alliance refers to the collaborative and supportive relationship developed between the professional and the client or patient and is considered an important component of the therapeutic process.

Aim

The main aim of the HAQ-38 is to assess the quality of the therapeutic relationship and identify possible difficulties or weaknesses in the collaboration between the professional and the client. It can also contribute to understanding how the therapeutic alliance is associated with the effectiveness and outcomes of treatment.

Dimensions Assessed

The questionnaire examines several aspects of the therapeutic alliance, including collaboration, support, trust, and communication quality between the professional and the client.

Scoring

According to the available material, responses are usually rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree. A total score can be calculated by summing the responses across items, with higher scores indicating a better-quality therapeutic alliance. Separate scores may also be calculated for specific dimensions of the alliance.

Interpretation

Higher scores indicate a stronger, more collaborative, trusting, and supportive therapeutic relationship. Lower scores may indicate difficulties or weaknesses in the therapeutic alliance that could require further attention.

References

Bordin, E. S. (1979). The generalizability of the psychoanalytic concept of the working alliance. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 16(3), 252–260.

Horvath, A. O., & Greenberg, L. S. (1994). The working alliance: Theory, research, and practice. Oxford University Press.

Safran, J. D., & Muran, J. C. (2000). Negotiating the therapeutic alliance: A relational approach. Guilford Press.

Martin, D. J., Garske, J. P., & Davis, M. K. (2000). Relation of the therapeutic alliance with outcome and other variables: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(3), 438–450.