What do you think?
Rate this book
Effective Techniques for Dealing with Highly Resistant Clients
A to-the-point, practically written guide that teaches tangible, stress-reducing techniques for dealing with psychological resistance in counseling and therapy. A no-nonsense theory of psychological resistance is presented that empowers mental health professionals for dealing with their most difficult clients. This is followed by hundreds of down-to-earth techniques and ideas to prevent and resolve resistance in therapy. Some of the many topics discussed
- empowering ways to conceptualize resistance,
- errors therapist make that create resistance,
- basic principles for dealing with resistance,
- how to use the inherent power of language to create movement,
- the fundamental problems of over-questioning,
- managing "I don t know" and "Yes, but..." responses,
- dealing with silence,
- responding to challenges from clients,
- and practical approaches to goal creation.
A valuable resource that both the working professional and student will turn to when seeking realistic, pragmatic ideas and strategies for overcoming stagnation and creating therapeutic movement. Written for the frontline professional working in today s high pressure mental health environment, the book is indexed and designed for quick access to ideas and approaches.
- empowering ways to conceptualize resistance,
- errors therapist make that create resistance,
- basic principles for dealing with resistance,
- how to use the inherent power of language to create movement,
- the fundamental problems of over-questioning,
- managing "I don t know" and "Yes, but..." responses,
- dealing with silence,
- responding to challenges from clients,
- and practical approaches to goal creation.
A valuable resource that both the working professional and student will turn to when seeking realistic, pragmatic ideas and strategies for overcoming stagnation and creating therapeutic movement. Written for the frontline professional working in today s high pressure mental health environment, the book is indexed and designed for quick access to ideas and approaches.
178 pages, Perfect Paperback
Published May 1, 2007
6 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 23, 2011
I've been in the counseling field since 1992 and this is the most insightful clinical book I've ever found. It takes you inside the head of a person trying to change, helps you see the fear and ambivalence, and shows you what they really need.
My favorite point: it's not that clients don't know what the solution is. Clients know what the solution is and it terrifies them. As with many points in the book, we all know this from our efforts to make changes in our own lives, but it is so easy overlook complexities in others.
Mitchell has helped me to break my counseling down into smaller steps. This lowers resistance and keeps me from pushing the client or getting frustrated. The work takes on a natural flow that is very enjoyable.
He delves into the use of language in much more detail than most counseling methods teach and gives you verbal tools that really help move the client forward.
As others have pointed out, resistance is not a special problem in counseling, it is what counseling is all about. Mitchell helps me to keep that perspective and when I do, resistance is more fascinating that frustrating.
I often dip into Mitchell's book when I'm having trouble. It always helps me solve my problem and usually leaves me feeling more inspired as well.
My favorite point: it's not that clients don't know what the solution is. Clients know what the solution is and it terrifies them. As with many points in the book, we all know this from our efforts to make changes in our own lives, but it is so easy overlook complexities in others.
Mitchell has helped me to break my counseling down into smaller steps. This lowers resistance and keeps me from pushing the client or getting frustrated. The work takes on a natural flow that is very enjoyable.
He delves into the use of language in much more detail than most counseling methods teach and gives you verbal tools that really help move the client forward.
As others have pointed out, resistance is not a special problem in counseling, it is what counseling is all about. Mitchell helps me to keep that perspective and when I do, resistance is more fascinating that frustrating.
I often dip into Mitchell's book when I'm having trouble. It always helps me solve my problem and usually leaves me feeling more inspired as well.
August 1, 2025
absolutely amazing.... the challenge? remembering it lol
October 15, 2019
You can start using this information as soon as you are done reading this book.
Written by a clinician for other clinicians dealing with the daily grind of mental health work, he combines research and humor to make the difficult not so difficult.
More importantly he brings the compassion and clinical insight necessary to understand the Milton Erickson principle that "there are no resistant clients, only therapists who don't understand." He helps the practitioner use the resistance of the client to form a healthy, productive clinical relationship based on knowledge, insight and respect.
Written by a clinician for other clinicians dealing with the daily grind of mental health work, he combines research and humor to make the difficult not so difficult.
More importantly he brings the compassion and clinical insight necessary to understand the Milton Erickson principle that "there are no resistant clients, only therapists who don't understand." He helps the practitioner use the resistance of the client to form a healthy, productive clinical relationship based on knowledge, insight and respect.
August 25, 2021
Read with my Precision Nutrition reading group, this is one of the most practical books I've read on helping clients to change their behaviours. And dealing with clients who are resistant to change.
While written for therapists and counselors, it is highly beneficial for those of us who help clients with change.
While written for therapists and counselors, it is highly beneficial for those of us who help clients with change.
May 1, 2019
3.5 stars. Some of the author’s points and suggestions I like and will use in my practice, others I don’t.
June 23, 2025
A great perspective change on what resistance means & how to actively work with it rather than against it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews