"Reformulation of the concepts of resistance and noncompliance in cognitive therapy "

Abstract

Despite its general success, not everyone responds to cognitive therapy. Some clients have difficulty complying whit assignments and others appear to be frankly resistant. This article considers strategies for dealing with passive noncompliance and active resistance within cognitive therapy. In general, it is argued that the precess of therapy is usually facilitated by staying within the cognitive model-that is, by exploring and working through those beliefs and attitude4s that underlie noncompliance and resistance in the same manner that other problematic beliefs and attitudes are approached. Also considered are strategies for delaing with unrealistic expectations regarding tja pace of change, therapists’ errors leading to noncompliance and resistance, and instances wich the therapeutic model is simply insufficient.