The Agnew Relationship Measure-5 ARM-5
The Agnew Relationship Measure-5 ARM-5 overview
Creator and Context
The Agnew Relationship Measure-5 (ARM-5) is a brief, client-rated questionnaire focused on assessing the therapeutic relationship in counselling and psychotherapy. It emphasises the client's perspective of the relationship with their therapist, measuring aspects like empathy, collaboration, and mutual goal setting.
The ARM-5 was developed to support clinicians in the practice of Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT), a client-centered approach that integrates client feedback into the therapeutic process. The measure's brevity and simplicity make it suitable for regular use in therapy sessions.
Presenting Conditions
The ARM-5 is designed to evaluate the quality of the therapeutic relationship, which is a critical factor in the success of therapy. It does not measure symptom severity or specific psychological conditions but focuses on the relational aspects between client and therapist.
Administration
The ARM-5 is administered towards the end of a therapy session at regular intervals—either every session, every second session, or every third session. The client completes the questionnaire, reflecting on their experience of the therapy session.
Desired Audience
The ARM-5 is used with clients in a wide range of therapeutic settings, including individual therapy, group therapy, and couple's counselling. It is appropriate for clients of varying ages and backgrounds.
Clinicians use the ARM-5 to obtain feedback on the therapeutic alliance, using this information to adjust their approach and enhance the effectiveness of therapy. This measure is particularly useful in Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT).
Considerations
The ARM-5 should be used as a tool for enhancing the therapeutic process rather than as a standalone assessment. Clinicians should be aware of the subjective nature of the measure and consider it in the context of the overall therapeutic process.
How to score the The Agnew Relationship Measure-5 ARM-5
Conducting the assessment
Clients rate their experience of the therapy session on a few brief items. This process typically takes only a few minutes and can be seamlessly integrated into the end of a therapy session.
Interpretation
The ARM-5 provides a score based on the client's ratings, which can be used to gauge the strength of the therapeutic relationship. Higher scores indicate a stronger, more positive relationship. Specific thresholds for interpretation are not typically set, as the focus is on relative change over time.
Interpretation of ARM-5 scores is qualitative rather than quantitative. Clinicians look for patterns or changes in scores over time to inform their therapeutic approach.
Clinical Considerations
The ARM-5 is used as a dynamic tool within the therapeutic process. Clinicians should discuss the results with clients to foster openness and adjust their methods as needed based on feedback.
The Agnew Relationship Measure-5 ARM-5 use cases
The ARM-5 is particularly valuable in settings where ongoing client feedback is essential for treatment adjustment. It is also useful in training settings where therapists are developing their skills in building and maintaining therapeutic relationships.
Category
Feedback
Research Summary
Agnew-Davies, R., Stiles, W. B., Hardy, G. E., Barkham, M., & Shapiro, D. A. (1998). Alliance structure assessed by the Agnew Relationship Measure (ARM). British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 37(Pt 2), 155-172.
Stiles, W. B., Agnew-Davies, R., Hardy, G. E., Barkham, M., & Shapiro, D. A. (2002). Temporal regularities in therapeutic change: A guide to feedback informed treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70(2), 278-287.
