Current behavioral models of client and consultee resistance: A critical review.

Abstract

Resistance is the phenomena that occurs in the therapeutic relationship when the patient refuses to complete tasks assigned by the therapist which would benefit the patient in improving their psychological situation. Resistance is also used to describe situations in the consulting relationship where the consultee does not do what the consultant suggests. Often resistance leads to poor treatment integrity and/or staff burn out. As a result, this resistance is a factor that warrants a behavioral interpretation and investigation. Currently several behavioral models of resistance exist. In this paper, we explore each of these models and critique the logical and empirical support. Future research directions will be discussed.

From Psycho-Analysis to Culture-Analysis

“…The notion of resistance today is no longer exclusive to psychoanalytic work. It is discussed in various terminologies in many of the psychotherapeutic approaches mentioned above, including the behavioral approach (Cautilli et al, 2005).…”

Conjoint behavioral consultation: An emerging and effective model for developing home-school partnerships.

“…Treatment plans are developed with the expectation that they will be implemented as intended and not modified by the change agent (treatment integrity). Many failures in school-based consultation can be attributed to consultee resistance and absent or weak treatment integrity, despite an intervention's demonstrated empirical support (Cautilli, Riley-Tillman, Axelrod, & Hineline, 2005;Gresham, 1989). A noteworthy feature of this case study is the inclusion of a structured treatment monitoring interview (CTMI) designed to promote a collaborative consultant-consultee relationship, increase consultees' problem-solving efforts and shared ownership of the treatment plan, and improve their self-efficacy.…”

Improving treatment outcome for oppositional defiant disorder in young children.

“…Resistance is often defined as client behavior that is in opposition to either the therapist or to the treatment goals set by the therapist or the treatment protocol (Bischoff & Tracey, 1995). Behavioral models of resistance, such as the OSLC model (see Cautilli, Riley-Tillman, Alexrod, & Hineline, 2005, for a review) also emphasize the contributions of therapist behaviors and therapist-parent interactions to the frequency and resolution of client resistance.…”