Dealing with Resistance

Resistance is an unwillingness to deal directly with an issue, problem or concern. It is almost certain to occur in the coach-client relationship at some point and can impede one’s development, but resistance is a normal, self-protective clue to a topic of concern and personal importance. Resistance is an unconscious attempt to stave off awareness until one feels safe enough to deal with a given reality.

Resistance is not a conscious act or decision, it is felt emotionally and acted out. It is self-preserving; The harder you try to fight it, the stronger it gets. We need to understand it in order for it to be disarmed. So, what do we do?

We need to respect and accept its existence. Resistance must be met gently and with curiosity. We must welcome resistance into the room! “Welcome Resistance! Please sit down and tell us why you are here. You can stay as long as you like! We just want to understand you better and why you are here.”

When resistance is examined, understood and expressed directly, it tends to lose its power and makes way for inquiry, discovery and progress.