Full Answer
What is resistance in therapy?
The idea of resistance in therapy is complicated. It was originally created as a psychoanalytic concept by Sigmund Freud, who believed it was an unconscious opposition to revealing memories in psychoanalysis (Psychoanalytic Terms & Concepts Defined, n.d.). In more general terms, resistance is thought of as anything that stops therapeutic change.
What are the most common types of resistance filled situations in therapy?
One very common resistance-filled occurrence is that the patient questions the therapist’s professionalism for not having gray hair, a lush mustache, a face full of wrinkles, or not wearing a suit. What may start as a simple comment at the beginning of the treatment can become a resistance later on.
What should a therapist do when a client exhibits resistance?
If the client is exhibiting resistance, it is the job of the therapist to assist in reducing it as much as it is the client’s responsibility to change their behavior. Whatever your definition, one thing is sure, resistance is negatively related to treatment success (Beutler, Moleiro & Talebi, 2002).
What is an example of resistance in psychology?
Resistance was originally defined within the context of psychoanalysis. In psychoanalysis, resistance is loosely defined as a client's unwillingness to discuss a particular topic in therapy. For example, if a client in psychotherapy is uncomfortable talking about his or her father, they may show resistance around this topic.
What type of therapy is resistance?
Response content resistance is a client's attempt to restrict or control the type of information communicated to the counselor. This may manifest itself in several different forms. Often times, clients engage in small talk about irrelevant topics, such as gossip or rumors.
What is an example of resistance in therapy?
In psychoanalysis, resistance is loosely defined as a client's unwillingness to discuss a particular topic in therapy. For example, if a client in psychotherapy is uncomfortable talking about his or her father, they may show resistance around this topic.
What is resistance to treatment?
Treatment resistance is a term that describes someone who does not respond to usual treatment programs. Some people struggling with substance abuse or alcoholism have a difficult time staying sober by going to a 30-day addiction treatment center. You can say that they are resistant to the treatment.
What is resistance in psychodynamic therapy?
Resistance, in psychoanalysis, refers to oppositional behavior when an individual's unconscious defenses of the ego are threatened by an external source.
What causes resistance in counseling?
Issues contributing to client resistance may include fears of failure or the fear of terminating therapy. One question a therapist can use to address these types of fears is, “What would happen if you were successful?” or something else along those lines.
When resistance occurs in therapy what event is taking place?
antisocial personality disorder. When resistance occurs in therapy, what event is taking place? The client is using unconscious defense strategies that prevent progress.
What is Process resistance?
A Resistance Process consists of activities of biologic molecules or complexes involved in processes that maintain immunity to, or counteract, defeat, or withstand the effects of, an antagonistic agent. ( NCI Thesaurus)
What is a resistant client in therapy?
Clients are sometimes resistant because the counselor is asking them to deal with an undesired agenda, Wubbolding says. “Resistance means we're working on the wrong problem a problem that the client doesn't care to work on. Counselors need to connect with the client in order to find the right problem.
What is resistance trauma therapy?
Getting close to traumatic material can feel threatening. Therapeutic resistance is one form of avoidance that you might try in order to protect yourself from pain. Despite your longing to heal, you may start running the other way.
What does resistance mean in psychology?
1. generally, any action in opposition to, defying, or withstanding something or someone. 2. in psychotherapy and analysis, obstruction, through the client's words or behavior, of the therapist's or analyst's methods of eliciting or interpreting psychic material brought forth in therapy.
What is resistance in therapy?
Resistance in therapy refers to patient attitudes, behaviors, or cognitions that may delay or avoid therapeutic change. Usually, it’s present during the first stages of evaluation because that’s where the client may begin to question the treatment. In addition to this, they may refuse to speak sincerely or answer the therapist’s questions politely.
Why do people resist therapy?
Many times, resistance in therapy stems from inadequate interventions in the motivational stage, which is a crucial part of the therapeutic process.
What is the ultimate goal of therapy?
The ultimate goal will always be to offer the client the most appropriate, effective, and useful therapy according to their issue. If there’s the possibility of changing the type of task or eliminating it and finding other means to reach the goal, don’t hesitate to look for them.
What to do if a patient doesn't do self-records?
When this happens, as a last resort, you can confront the patient. Tell them that if they don’t do their self-records, there won’t be a therapy session the following week. To condition the therapy, call the patient the day before the appointment and ask if they completed their self-records.
How to help a patient who forgot to fill in self records?
Allow external aid. For example, if the patient forgets to fill in their self-records, send them a text reminding them. There are also things they can do during the therapy session. Help them establish a series of alarms or make reminders they can place in easily-seen spots so they never forget.
Why are there age gaps between therapists?
The reason for this is that older patients are most likely going to believe a young therapist won’t be able to relate to their issues.
What can be a simple comment at the beginning of a treatment?
What may start as a simple comment at the beginning of the treatment can become a resistance later on. That’s when the patient will begin to doubt their psychologist in every way. Perhaps they think their therapist doesn’t have the right tools or information in order to help them.
How do therapists deal with resistance?
Another way that therapists commonly deal with resistance is through patience, acceptance, and understanding. Doing this creates trust with the client. Therapists develop very strong relationships with their clients that can be used to counteract resistance.
What is resistance in psychotherapy?
In psychoanalysis, resistance is loosely defined as a client's unwillingness to discuss a particular topic in therapy. For example, if a client in psychotherapy is uncomfortable talking about his or her father, they may show resistance around this topic.
What is the role of a therapist in a resistance therapy program?
All psychologists and licensed therapists are trained to deal with the different forms of resistance in their clients. Therapists consider it important to detect resistance to psychotherapy and interpret why it is occurring. If the therapist can detect and deal with resistance, they can use it to diffuse the resistance.
What is the role of a therapist in a client's behavior?
Therapists are taught to anticipate anger, defensiveness, or frustration in their clients . If the therapist is not surprised by this behavior, they are more likely to be able to continue to work with the client's feelings and make resistance helpful to therapy.
Why do people start therapy on their own?
Most clients begin therapy on their own, for physical health reasons, mental health reasons, and general wellness.
How to remove resistance from a client?
Therapists have several methods at their disposal to remove resistance from their clients, including: Being patient. Anticipation of anger and frustration. Developing a strong relationship based on trust with their client. Direct confrontation of the resistant behavior. Using metaphors .
Who is the founder of resistance therapy?
Its roots go all the way back to psychoanalysis and its founder, Sigmund Freud, who saw resistance as a natural part of the therapeutic process. There are several examples of resistance being expressed by a client, including: Silence. Wordiness.
What is resistance therapy?
Resisting therapy is a form of behavior, cognition, or emotion that a patient presents and that’s an obstacle to their improvement. In fact, the range of resistance is as varied as the people who go to therapy. Similarly, although not all of them display opposition, there may be times when you can detect that your patient seems stagnant.
What is the purpose of well being therapy?
Well-being therapy. This seeks to increase well-being and self-efficacy, not just a reduction of symptoms. Because obsessive thoughts are often negative, increasing a person’s well-being is definitely useful.
What is the purpose of rewriting past events?
Narrative techniques about past positive events. Rewriting past events helps a person deal with negative thoughts. It helps generate positive emotions from a past that someone might perceive as entirely negative. The task is to write about the happiest moments of one’s life and the emotions they brought.
Do psychological models pay equal attention to resistance?
The various psychological models don’t pay equal attention to resistance. However, everyone insists on the need to solve them, give them the attention they deserve, to expose them in session, and to ask the patient assertive questions about any difficulties they might be encountering.
Positive Psychology
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