What is the e-SOFTA?

The e-SOFTA is a software application that allows users to rate the quality of the therapeutic alliance in conjoint couple and family therapy sessions. The main advantage of this software version over the paper-and-pencil instrument is that e-SOFTA provides a direct comparison of two or more users' ratings (e.g., supervisor and trainee or several research assistants). In addition, qualitative impressions can be recorded and compared across users. That is, built into the software program is the ability to directly compare two users' qualitative impressions and alliance ratings of the same session. In the context of research, a therapy session can first be rated by the SOFTA-o trainer. Next, the individuals being trained can rate the same session, using the time-stamped items and qualitative comments by the trainer to understand differences between their own results and those of the trainer. In the context of supervision, a supervisee can rate his or her own sessions after (or before) the supervisor has independently done so. The program is available free from this website and includes a series brief training vignettes (8 client, 8 therapist) in both Spanish and English.