Summarize your learning from your individual and group work on the SOFTA.

Based on SOFTA, describe

one or two (or more!) specific behaviours you need to incorporate into your counselling skills repertoire.

SOFTA was developed to estimate the strength of the working alliance in conjoint family treatment.

Till date, no single indicator of the therapeutic process has been shown to be more powerful in

predicting client outcome than the therapeutic alliance (Horvath & Symonds, 1991). Not only is

the alliance a meaningful predictor of therapeutic success across theoretical orientations

(Bachelor, 1991), but also clients’ perspectives on the alliance early in treatment consistently

predict outcome weeks or months later (Horvath & Symonds, 1991).

SOFTA-o is designed to for couples and family therapies. However, the first three dimensions /constructs
could be applied during individual sessions. The last construct is designed to rate minimum of two
individuals. All SOFTA dimensions are assumed crucial in forming a solid working alliance but some
constructs are more salient than others depending on the therapeutic approach, treatment setting or
stage of therapy (Friedlander, 2005). Safety and Emotional Connection to the Therapist is deemed to
vary in context. It is noteworthy that SOFTA-o was designed to reflect some aspects of alliance that are
not theory-specific and as such difficult to measured.

Presence of behavioral Indicators Renee Dennis

Engagement in the Therapeutic Process

Client indicates agreement with the therapist’s +3 +3

goals.
Client describes or discusses a plan for improving +2 +3
situation.
Client introduces a problem for discussion. +3 +3
Client agrees to do homework assignment. +3 +3
Client indicates having done homework or seeing it
as useful. +2 +3
Client expresses optimism or indicates that positive
change has taken place. +1 +2
Client complies with therapist’s request for an
enactment.
Client leans forward. 0 +2
Client mentions the treatment, the therapeutic
process, or a specific session. - -
Client expresses feeling stuck questions, the value
of therapy, or states that therapy is not/has not +3 0
been helpful
Client shows indifference about the tasks or +2 +3
process of therapy
 Emotional Connection to the Therapist

Client shares a lighthearted moment or joke with

the therapist +1 +1
Client verbalizes trust in the therapist +1 +3
Client expresses interest in the therapist’s life 0 0
Client indicates feeling understood or accepted by
the therapist +3 +3
Client expresses physical affection or caring for the
therapist 0
Safety within the therapeutic system
Shared Sense of Purpose Within the Family

Renee’s observable behavioral indicators as session unfolds:

Body Language

Emotional reaction/response

Feeling and acknowledgement of safety

Consension