One effective strategy for helping patients resistant to treatment involves building a strong therapeutic alliance. This begins with establishing trust and rapport, understanding the patient's concerns, and collaborating on achievable treatment goals. Flexibility in the therapeutic approach and psychoeducation about their condition can help alleviate resistance. It is also essential to explore ambivalence and address practical barriers while empowering the patient to recognize their strengths. By pacing therapy appropriately and celebrating progress, therapists can gradually overcome resistance and foster meaningful change in their patients. Kim Feeney, LISW, RPT-S
I don't believe anyone is "treatment resistant", I believe we haven't offered them the right modality. We need to acknowledge the limitations of the traditional mental health systems and the paradigm in which we operate. Our clients deserve better, so do we
A strategy that I utilize the most to assist clients who may be hesitant to treatment is creating a nonjudgmental atmosphere and allowing them to initially set the pace of treatment. It is crucial to go at the client's pace and it might take them time to build trust and feel secure enough to share deeper thoughts and feelings. A client’s level of trust and safety directly impacts many clients’ ability to begin to share more vulnerable feelings. Respecting their needs and honoring their process is crucial in gaining a strong level of trust. After trust and safety have been built, then a therapist can begin to challenge the client to begin to understand deeper feelings and/or tackle behaviors that are negatively impacting themselves or their relationships. Through building a relationship with clients in this way, most become less resistant to treatment.
Never force the patient who is resistant, most providers try to sell their skills, the reason which the clients get an impression that this is something commercial rather than healing or being therapeutic. I rather make the first session itself very impactful, explaining to them the 4 Rs approach of Relief, Rout cause reversal, Rebalance Regeneration that we follow which makes us different from the others and not just treats their symptoms but also promotes well-being.