Resistance during psychotherapy and behavior therapy.
Client push-back peaks when you quiz them, so weave questions into reflective statements.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Mace et al. (1990) asked therapists what they mean by client resistance. They sent a short survey to both behavior and analytic therapists.
The survey listed ways clients might push back. Therapists picked the ones they saw most.
What they found
Both camps agreed on the top two signs: clients avoid tasks or argue. Analytic therapists said they see it more often.
The spark for push-back was the same for both. It happens most when the therapist asks info-seeking questions.
How this fits with other research
Hattier et al. (2011) ran a similar survey two decades later. They swapped the topic from resistance to CBT waves, but the method matches.
Prasher et al. (1995) filmed panic sessions and saw warm, nondirective starts build trust. Their data echo C et al.'s warning that too many questions early can back-fire.
Jaffe et al. (2002) tracked OCD homework slips. They show compliance drops when clients feel pestered, lining up with C et al.'s trigger list.
Why it matters
You can cut resistance before it starts. First sessions, swap rapid-fire questions for reflective listening. When you need data, embed one question inside a summary statement. Watch body cues: folded arms or long pauses mean pull back. Build momentum with choices ("Would you like to start with breathing or a short walk?"). Clients who feel heard comply more later.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The purpose of the present study into the phenomenon of resistance was twofold. First, the meaning of the concept as conceived by therapists of psychoanalytic and behavioral orientation was investigated. Second, an attempt was made to gain insight into the dynamics of the clinical phenomenon of resistance. The results of the study indicated that both groups of therapists attached virtually the same meaning to the concept of resistance. Both groups viewed the same classes of behaviors as indicative of resistance. Furthermore, it was found, as expected, that analytically oriented therapists reported the occurrence of resistance more frequently. The two groups agreed that "avoiding" and "fighting" behaviors were the most prominent resistances of clients. Therapist behaviors that were most likely to elicit resistance in the client are the "informative" behaviors, such as asking questions about the nature and origin of the complaint. Clinical implications of the research findings are discussed.
Behavior modification, 1990 · doi:10.1177/01454455900142004