Clients sometimes work in opposition to their therapists, a phenomenon
known as ''resistance.'' Such behavior is not simply an impediment to
treatment, but also a potentially rich source of information about ea
ch client. This information can be assessed and utilized to strengthen
the therapeutic relationship, help the therapist better understand th
e ideographic obstacles to change, and devise interventions that may m
otivate the client toward therapeutic activity and growth. Clinical vi
gnettes of three resistant clients are presented, illustrating both th
e commonalties and unique factors that lead to resistance across cases
. Eight important assessment questions and 10 suggested interventions
are listed and discussed in detail. The practical applications of thes
e methods in each of the three case studies shed light on how therapis
ts can enhance their resistant clients' motivation for therapeutic cha
nge.