The Counselling Session Benefits Scale: Reliability, validity and psychometric properties

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate the Counselling Session Benefits Scale (CSBS), a self-report measure for assessing counselling benefits. METHOD: In Study 1, expert evaluation and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were conducted among university clients in China to establish content validity and factor structure. Besides, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and internal consistency were assessed. In Study 2, the scale's factor structure, internal consistency, validity and measurement invariance were examined among clients in general hospitals in China. RESULTS: The 23-item CSBS identified five factors: emotional release, cognitive changes, increase in coping skills, increase in confidence and self-acceptance. Both samples showed acceptable Cronbach's α coefficients, and EFA/CFA confirmed the scale's factor structure. Further, the CSBS correlated positively with working alliance and demonstrated measurement invariance across gender, medication use, psychotherapy experience and time. CONCLUSION: The CSBS is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating client gains after a single counselling session in university and clinical settings. Research is needed to validate the CSBS in western countries using a representative sample.