When women resist treatment: approaches for counselors.

This article focuses on the problem of treatment resistance in women. Causes are explored, including psychological and situational factors. Techniques for recognizing and reducing resistance are offered, including implications for treatment planning and program design. Counselors are given a sense of perspective that provides for both recognition of their emotional reactions to resistance, and a therapeutic approach to working through resistance. The importance of recognizing a productive relationship is emphasized, and recommendations are made to reduce counselor burnout.