Session Evaluation Questionnaire – Client Form (SEQ-C)
Measures the client's perception of the impact of a psychotherapy session across dimensions of depth, smoothness, positivity, and arousal.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Session Evaluation Questionnaire – Client Form (SEQ-C) was developed by William B. Stiles, S. Reynolds, G. E. Hardy, A. Rees, M. Barkham, & D. A. Shapiro (1994). It is designed to measure Psychotherapy session impact. The scale is intended for use with Adults in psychotherapy.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 22 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Depth, Smoothness, Positivity, Arousal.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | 3,4,7,8,9 | 5 |
| Smoothness | 2,5,6,10,11 | 5 |
| Positivity | 12,13,15,17,18 | 5 |
| Arousal | 14,16,19,20,21 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = 1 (Left adjective), 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 6 = 6, 7 = 7 (Right adjective).
The scale includes 10 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 7. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low: 1 – 3
- Neutral: 4 – 4
- High: 5 – 7
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Depth (Alpha .90), Smoothness (Alpha .92), Positivity (Alpha .90), Arousal (Alpha .80).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.