Another type of client resistance can be labeled the fear of taking responsibility. Acceptance of responsibility for decisions is one of the most difficult things clients face in their lives. Counselors' awareness and appreciation of the potential burden and threat that taking responsibility represents to clients are prerequisite to dealing with resistance in a positive manner. Making Excuses Another way of understanding, interpreting, and working with resistance is to consider the concept of excuses. Some clients are silent and passive.
Some clients show up late for career counseling sessions.
Some clients do not show up at all for career counseling. Dealing With Resistance Resistive clients have their own unique, idiosyncratic patterns for survival. Understanding that resistance can and does take place in career counseling, recognizing the patterns resistive clients use, and knowing how to work with resistance, if present, within the career counseling process, are crucial. However you come to understand and work with client resistance in career counseling, it is important to remember that a strong client-counselor working alliance is the foundation. A strong client-counselor working alliance may also open the door to provide new insights about ways to interpret client behavior.