Understanding Resistance in Therapy

Therapy is often described as a path toward self-compassion and healing. While it can be incredibly rewarding, it’s not always easy. One common challenge that arises in therapy is resistance. But what exactly is resistance, and how can addressing it help you grow?

What Is Resistance in Therapy?

Resistance is like hitting an invisible wall during therapy. It can take many forms, such as avoiding certain topics, skipping sessions, or even downplaying emotions. These behaviors often stem from fear, discomfort, or hesitation about confronting deeper truths or changing one’s life.

Resistance, in the context of psychoanalysis, refers to the unconscious defense mechanisms that patients use to avoid confronting and resolving their repressed thoughts, feelings, and memories. While resistance may seem like an obstacle, it’s important to remember that it’s a natural and expected part of the therapeutic process. Often, it signals that valuable insights are waiting to be uncovered.

How Resistance Slows Progress

When resistance arises, it can impact the pace and depth of your therapy. Internal roadblocks may stop you from fully engaging with your therapist or exploring underlying issues. Left unaddressed, resistance can make it difficult to trust the process and tap into the benefits of therapy.

But here’s the good news—resistance is not a dead end. It’s an opportunity to learn about yourself and deepen your self-awareness.

The Key to Overcoming Resistance

The first step to overcoming resistance is to acknowledge it. Have you noticed moments where you want to avoid a specific topic or feel disconnected during a session? These moments are worth sharing with your therapist.

By naming your resistance and talking about it, you and your therapist can work together to understand its root cause. Is it fear of vulnerability? Is it anxiety about confronting painful memories? Whatever the reason, opening up about your resistance allows you and your therapist to approach it constructively.

Turning Resistance Into Growth

When met with compassion and curiosity, resistance becomes a tool for personal growth. Addressing it strengthens the therapeutic relationship, giving you and your therapist the opportunity to collaborate more effectively. It also fosters deeper self-awareness, helping you better understand your emotions, behaviors, and patterns.

Ultimately, facing resistance is a step forward in the healing process. Each breakthrough breaks down barriers, bringing you closer to the progress and change you’re seeking.

A Space for You to Resolve Resistances

Feeling resistant in therapy is completely normal, and you’re not alone in experiencing it. The most important thing to remember is that your psychoanalytic sessions are a space, where you can explore resistance with a trained professional. Therapy is a journey, and resistance is simply part of the process. Together, you and your therapist can turn it into an opportunity for growth, self-discovery, and transformation.

References

Sigmund Freud wrote extensively about resistance in his book "The Dynamics of Transference" (1912), but more specifically, he discussed resistance in:

• "Studies on Hysteria" (1895), co-authored with Josef Breuer

• "The Interpretation of Dreams" (1900)

• "The Psychopathology of Everyday Life" (1901)

However, Freud's most detailed exploration of resistance can be found in:

• "An Outline of Psycho-Analysis" (1924)

• "Inhibitions, Symptoms and Anxiety" (1926)