Purpose

The purpose of the questionnaire is to evaluate three key factors of the therapeutic relationship: (a) the bond between therapist and client, (b) the degree of agreement on the goals of therapy, and (c) the agreement on the “tasks” or activities required during the therapeutic process.

Brief Description

The Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) is a self-report questionnaire completed by the client after the initial sessions. It consists of 36 items, organized into three subscales: “Goals,” “Tasks,” and “Bond.” Responses are given on a 7-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (never) to 7 (always). The tool can be administered in its full version or in shorter forms.

Validity

The WAI demonstrates high validity, as it correlates positively with other established therapeutic relationship measures (such as CALPAS, Helping Alliance Inventory, etc.). Studies by Horvath & Greenberg (1989) have documented its construct and discriminant validity.

Reliability

The reliability of the scale has been examined internationally, with high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from 0.84 to 0.93. In the Greek version of the WAI, internal consistency reached 0.86 for the therapist form and 0.91 for the client form. Subscale reliability ranged from 0.78 to 0.94.

Data Analysis and Use

Scores are calculated by summing the item values for each subscale and for the total score. The scale is widely used in both research and clinical contexts to monitor the progression of the therapeutic relationship and to compare therapists or therapeutic approaches.

Main Bibliographic Source

Horvath, A. O., & Greenberg, L. S. (1989). Development and validation of the Working Alliance Inventory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 36(2), 223–233.