Resistance in Counseling and Psychotherapy
Jeffrey T. Guterman describes the progressive reconceptualization of the concept of resistance in counseling and psychotherapy.
Jeffrey T. Guterman describes the progressive reconceptualization of the concept of resistance in counseling and psychotherapy.
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Counseling & pyschotherapy, the emperor
has no clothes.
Without joining the body with the mind,
this is all non sense. Talk, talk, talk,
talk, talk, talk, once a week, twice a week,
three times, talk talk talk, talk, talk, talk,
nothing accomplished but supporting
the therapist in a style of living that they
don’t deserve, based on ability &
wisdom.
It would be better to bring back fortune
tellers, they are smarter and actually
has a better record than therapists.
I went to a therapist. I helped myself and as for her she said that our interaction was indicative of some real life situation and it was that that I later decided was BS. Well, because I never meet anyone that acted like her, the pretense of interest, she is well respected but I hope in the future I meet an honest person who can be , um, less professional? Is the horse fooled by reverse psych or did i miss something?
You have the longest comment replies on youtube
I believe ‘resistance’ is rooted in old survival issues that are based on the fear of loss. That ‘loss’ can be related to outright abandonment issues or the loss of a parent’s love or approval. I believe that the amount of resistance is in direct proportion to the individual’s rage connected to feelings of parental rejection.
i think the reason for the resistance is the ego. which i believe we have allowed to go on auto pilot. it is quite a shock to it to allow another person to tell (even if well advised) them what they are doing wrong. so naturally the ego will resist when it is threatened. in times of crisis we resort to our earlyest state of memory. either isolation or absolute dependency… ya, that sounds about right to me…
This causes the therapist to believe that rejection on the part of the client towards the therapy is not due to the clients belief that she or he is wasting money on a snake oil psychotherapy huckster, but rather that the therapist has something helpful to offer, other than a pile of psychobabble laced with self aggrandizing pomposity.
The concept of resistance in psychotherapyy is the narcissistic skewed perception of the psychotherapist which is caused by the denial of the therapists own impotence as a self aggrandizing healer who likes to listen to himself talk.
Thanks for this I have listen to this a few times now and added it to my Video log.
Resistence to change is natural. But I believe its driven by the fact that the client therapist relationship is not a good fit. And way back when, there were only so many counselors practicing. Now you have choices! And the opportunity to find a good counselor that fits your personality and understands how to correctly minimize your natural resistence.
If met with resistance, then clearly that individual is not ready for change, a person cannot be made to change, your mind is your most powerful tool, a person can want to change. choice!! it’s a basic human right isn’t it?.
Is it not more beneficial to have the individual’s trust and have them taking steps by choice rather than ‘horse method?
PART II:
Erikson’s story is both a literal and allegorical example to show how sometimes how best efforts can take us further and further away from the desired outcome. Sometimes when we go with resistance, the inclination to not change, we are then able to somehow move forward.
PART I:
Good question. Milton Erikson told the story of the horse in his writings, and I did not get the horse’s reaction after it was led into the barn. As for individuals, the point of Erikson’s horse tale is that change is often easier when we go with the resistance.
What happened when the horse realized that it had been tricked and how would an individual respond to this method.
first I acknowledge the resistance. The client and I agree he/she doesn’t want to be in session. I’ll say that they can sit there, and not say anything if they choose for the entire session, and I’ll do the talking for them. essentially putting “words in their mouth.” Clients will often open up and say, “that’s not what I”d say,” or “I wouldn’t say it like that.” Now we’re talking!
A “resistant” adolescent grudgingly attends family counseling. They might refuse to talk in the sessions or be disruptive. Rather than cocreating resistance, I might suggest to the adolescent that it might be better if they not attend further sessions. I have gone so far as to insist that such clients not come back. These “resistant” clients sometimes return to the counseling verbose and contributing meaningfully.
thanks for posting, that was very interesting
would love to hear an example of the horse technique applied to human beings
i’ve always puzzled over our seemingly inherent contrary nature, and you’re right, it is a function of relationship–we even get contrary in relationship with parts of ourselves