Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Therapeutic Factors Inventory: Development of a Scale

  • Published:
Group

Abstract

Although Yalom's (1995) framework of the “therapeutic factors” facilitating outcome in group has been accepted by group specialists, no empirically based instrument assesses all of these factors. The Therapeutic Factors Inventory (TFI), with 11 scales based on the therapeutic factors, has been designed to fill this gap. This article summarizes the development and preliminary reliability testing of the TFI. Each scale of the instrument demonstrated high internal consistency; however, one scale obtained unacceptably low test-retest reliability. Further validity testing is needed. Implications of these findings are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Anastasi, A. (1988). Psychological testing (4th ed.). New York: MacMillan Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bednar, R. L., & Kaul, T. J. (1994). Experiential group research: Can the cannon fire? In S. L. Garfield & A. E. Bergin (Eds.), Handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (pp. 631–663). New York: J. Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloch, S., & Crouch, E. (1985). Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloch, S., Crouch, E., & Reibstein, J. (1981). Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy: A review. Archives of General Psychiatry, 38 519–526.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloch, S., Reibstein, J., Crouch, E., Holroyd, P., & Themen, J. (1979). A method for the study of therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy. British Journal of Psychiatry, 30 63–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. P., Hedinger, T., & Mieling, G. (1995). A homogenous group approach to social skills training for individuals with learning disabilities. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 20 98–107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Budman, S. H., Demby, A., Feldstein, M., Redondo, J., Scherz, B., Bennett, M. J., Koppenaal, G., Daley, B. S., Hunter, M., & Ellis, J. (1987). Preliminary findings on a new instrument to measure cohesion in group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 37 75–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Card, K. J., & Schmider, L. (1995). Group work with members who have hearing impairments. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 20 83–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, A. J. (1993). Interpretation in group counseling: Theoretical and operational issues. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 18 174–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corder, B. F., Whiteside, L., & Haizlip, T. M. (1981). A study of curative factors in group psychotherapy with adolescents. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 31 345–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cronbach, L. J. (1951). Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika, 16 297–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crouch, E. C., Bloch, S., & Wanlass, J. (1994). Therapeutic factors: Interpersonal and intrapersonal mechanisms. In A. Fuhriman & G. Burlingame (Eds.), Handbook of Group Psychotherapy (pp. 269–315). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeLucia-Waack, J., (1996). Multiculturalism is inherent in all group work. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 21 218–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dies, R. R. (1993). Research on group psychotherapy: Overview and clinical applications. In A. Alonso & H. I. Swiller (Eds.), Group therapy in clinical practice (pp. 473–518). Washington, D. C.: American Psychiatric Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flowers, J. V. (1987). Client outcome as a function of agreement or disagreement with the modal group perception of curative factors in short-term, structured group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 37 113–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuhriman, A., & Barlow, S. H. (1994). Interaction Analysis: Instrumentation and issues. In A. Fuhriman & G. Burlingame, (Eds.), Handbook of group psychotherapy (pp. 191–222). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuhriman, A., & Burlingame, G. M. (1994). Measuring small group process: A methodological application of chaos theory. Small Group Research, 25 502–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuhriman, A., Drescher, S., Hanson, E., Henrie, R., & Rybicki, W. (1986). Refining the measurement of curativeness: An empirical approach. Small Group Behavior, 17 186–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, F. S., McNiel, D. E., & Binder, R. L. (1988). Therapeutic factors in two forms of inpatient group psychotherapy: Music therapy and verbal therapy. Group, 12 145–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, I. H., Torres, J. S., Coleman, V. D., & Smith, M. C. (1995). Issues and strategies in leading culturally diverse counseling groups. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 20 143–150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellerman, P. F. (1987). Psychodrama participants' perception of therapeutic factors. Small Group Behavior, 18 408–419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobak, K. A., Rock, A. L., & Greist, J. H. (1995). Group behavior therapy for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 20 26–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kivlighan, D. M., & Lilly, R. L. (1997). Developmental changes in group climate as they relate to therapeutic gain. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1 208–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kivlighan, D. M., Multon, K. D., & Brossart, D. F. (1996). Helpful impacts in group counseling: Development of a multidimensional rating system. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43 347–355.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, L., & Lovett, J. (1991). Group therapeutic factors on an alcohol in-patient unit. British Journal of Psychiatry, 159 365–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie, K. R. (1983). The clinical application of a group climate measure. In R. R. Dies & K. R. MacKenzie, (Eds.), Advances in group psychotherapy: Integrating research and practice. New York: International Universities Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie, K. R. (1987). Therapeutic factors in group psychotherapy: A contemporary view. Group, 11 26–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacNair-Semands, R. R., & Lese, K. P. (2000). Interpersonal problems and the perception of therapeutic factors in group therapy. Small Group Research, 31 158–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marcovitz, R. J., & Smith, J. E. (1983). Patients' perceptions of curative factors in short-term group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 33 21–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath, J. E. (1997). Small group research, that once and future field: An interpretation of the past with an eye to the future. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, Practice, 1 7–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, J., & Ryan, A. (1993). Therapeutic factors experienced by members of an outpatient therapy group for older women. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 21 64–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murillo, N., Shaffer, P., & Michael, W. B. (1981). The development and validation of a preliminary measure for student evaluation of group counseling experiences. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 41 463–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Price, G. E., Dinas, P., Dunn, C., & Winterowd, C. (1995). Group work with clients experiencing grieving: Moving from theory to practice. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 20 159–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Randall, D. A. (1995). Curative factor rankings for female incest survivor groups: A summary of three studies. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 20 232–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohrbaugh, M., & Bartels, B. D. (1975). Participants' perceptions of “curative factors” in therapy and growth groups. Small Group Behavior, 6 430–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheidlinger, S. (1997). Group dynamics and group psychotherapy revisited: Four decades later. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 47 141–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silbergeld, S., Manderscheid, R. W., Meeker, B. F., & Hornung, C. A. (1975). Assessment of environment-therapy systems: The Group Atmosphere Scale. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43 460–469.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stockton, R., Rohde, R., & Haughey, J. (1990). Effects of structure on group cohesion, engagement, avoidance, and conflict. Paper presented at the 98th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Boston.

  • Stone, M. H., Lewis, C. M., & Beck, A. P. (1994). The structure of Yalom's Curative Factors Scale. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 44 239–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, M. F. (1974). Genetic vs. interpersonal insight. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 24 230–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalom, I.D. (1970). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalom, I. D. (1975). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (2nd ed.). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalom, I. D. (1985). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (3rd ed.). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yalom, I. D. (1995). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (4th ed.). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Counseling Center, University of San Diego, USA

    Karen P. Lese

  2. Counseling Center, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

    Rebecca R. MacNair-Semands

Authors
  1. Karen P. Lese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rebecca R. MacNair-Semands
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lese, K.P., MacNair-Semands, R.R. The Therapeutic Factors Inventory: Development of a Scale. Group 24, 303–317 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026616626780

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026616626780

Search

Navigation