Resistance Making Sense Out of Resistance Presenter Mark Lowis, LMSW, MINT President, MML Consulting

Key Questions What is the difference between a Character Trait and an Interpersonal State? Between the two where do you find Resistance? How could interpersonal activity ignite resistance when a behavior is judged to be a character Trait? How does the labeling of persons character based on resistance limit the effectiveness of the counselor? How does understanding the resistance change the approach of the counselor? How does understanding the resistance change the direction or target of the counseling? How does understanding the resistance lead to behavior change?

Truth Table With profession comes the insinuation of authority With authority comes the impulse for controlling behaviors With control comes enforcement With enforcement comes need for consequences Because counselors have no real authority what evolves is pseudo-authority (judging, blaming, labeling the client) to reduce frustration People (clients/consumers) try to reduce consequences If not ready to change reducing consequences becomes resistance Controllers evoke resistance, confront, evoke more, confront more… What is the most effective replacement for authority with regard to evoking behavior change?

Judging Wrong behavior Wrong lifestyle Illegal Incapable Offensive Irresponsible Immoral

Judging Evokes Fixing Removing the ability to resist Righting Response Lecturing Parenting Policing Investigating Confining Controlling Institutionalizing

Not Judging Evokes Curiosity What is the behavior (resistance) for? How does the resistance make sense? How do we shift to help with the issue that makes the resistance necessary to the person? How do we gain simple conversant trust? How do we use the simple conversant trust to develop an opportunity for amelioration of the reason for resistance?

Removing the Barrier Shift focus from the treatment goal to the reason for the resistance Gain trust and focus on the relationship Target the reason for resistance and assist/collaborate with the client to resolve the reason Increase readiness (DARNC) for change by ameliorating barriers to readiness Emphasize Choice and Control of the client and position yourself as the collaborative/Assistive partner

Following the Client Watch for effect of your utterances on the client Adjust your approach/utterances based on the client’s reactions Openly address resistance when you see it from a desire to understand remain helpful (empathy) Watch your own reactions Avoid operating on the client to make yourself feel less frustrated with their resistance Apologize for errors in approach Reassure genuine intentions Back up and start again Ask the client to teach you what you didn’t understand

The Search for Intrapersonal Fuel How does the client work the world (find out but don’t judge) What matters to the client How can you help them achieve what they care about? What do they already know, have tried, have been told Work with them Avoid “trying to get them ta…!”

IDDT Team Meeting Facilitated activity Case Discussion Formula What was Last contact for? What did we do? What did they Do? What was outcome? Based on that, what will the next contact be for? What will our interventions be? Who will do that?

Resistance Making Sense Out of Resistance Presenter Mark Lowis, LMSW, MINT President, MML Consulting