Refinement and factor structure confirmation of the Inventory of Therapist Work with Client Assets and Strengths (IT-WAS)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Strength-oriented practices and an emphasis on the positive characteristics of clients is a grounding value in United States Counseling Psychology. However, few efforts have, historically, been undertaken to empirically substantiate both the importance of strength-oriented practice and its relationship to outcome. The Inventory of Therapist Work with Client Assets and Strengths (IT-WAS) is one such measure developed to assess the importance therapists ascribe to being strength-oriented. However, the scale, originally developed with 38-items, has not been subjected to additional psychometric testing to confirm its factor structure and foster response efficiency. Our purpose was to apply Rasch Item Response Theory (IRT) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) tests to further substantiate the psychometric properties of the scale. Using a data set of mental health professionals responses (N = 380) to measures about their clinical work, we refined the scale, resulting in a 19-item revision with a new 5-point response scale. We refer to this scale as the IT-WAS-R. CFA led to confirmation of the original factor structure with the revised scale. Findings are discussed in light of the psychometric steps taken and the value of assessing therapists’ work with clients’ strengths both clinically and in training.