AN INTERPERSONAL-COMMUNICATION PERSPECTIVE ON RESISTANCE IN PSYCHOTHERAPY

This article discusses resistance in psychotherapy using the contempor ary interpersonal communication model of psychotherapy. This perspecti ve defines resistance as moments during sessions when the patient and therapist are interacting with one another in such a way that the pati ent is kept from becoming aware of any covert experiences or transacti onal patterns that are conflictual and anxiety provoking. The ways in which resistance may be conceptualized and worked with are discussed a nd applied to three patient vignettes, with an emphasis on working wit h resistances as they are manifested in tile patient-therapist relatio nship. Some of the potential reactions of the therapist to resistance are discussed including some relatively beneficial and some problemati c instances. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.