Name of Concept
Resistance
Introduction
Resistance in family therapy has been defined as all behaviors of individuals within the system which prevent the progress of the system as a unit. Such behaviors can be manifested through each individual, the relational aspect to family dynamic, or even from therapists’ level of engagement with the family (Anderson and Stewart 1983). A couple and family therapist will encounter a level of resistance from a client at some point in their career. For beginning therapists, the concept of resistance is one that can be particularly frightening. Novice therapists have the tendency to internalize a family’s resistance and subsequently becoming hostile, frustrated, or hopeless (Anderson and Stewart 1983). Nevertheless, resistance is not always an indication that the therapeutic relationship is flawed or at risk; many times individuals and families become resistant due to their behaviors being challenged or subject to change. That resistance then can...
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References
Anderson, C., & Stewart, S. (1983). Mastering resistance. New York: Guilford.
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Espinoza, S., Kovarkizi, M. (2019). Resistance in Couple and Family Therapy. In: Lebow, J.L., Chambers, A.L., Breunlin, D.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_547
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49425-8_547
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