Resistance is not futile: An experimental analogue of the effects of consultee “resistance” on the consultant’s therapeutic behavior in the consultation process: A replication and extension.

Abstract

In the school system, school psychologist serves a role as consultant to teachers in regard to children's behavioral problems (Bergan & Kratchowill, 1990). The defining feature of children's success is plan implementation (Bergan & Kratochwill, 1990). For school psychologists, ensuring consistent and accurate implementation of behavior strategies and tactics is the defining feature of successful treatment (Piersel & Gutkin, 1983). Failure to implement is commonly referred to as treatment integrity. Based on our previous review of the research (Cautilli, Tillman, Axelrod, & Hineline, 2005), we concluded that treatment integrity goes beyond successful training procedures to the need for a behavioral analysis of the consulting relationship-in particular the area referred to as resistance. We propose that effective consultation consists of a repertoire of skills based on principles of behavior analysis for promoting effective action within the consultation relationship. However, this model is seriously hindered by the lack of such a functional analysis. This study presents an experimental analogue of resistance in the consultation process. Using an ABAB reversal design, the experimenter measured the ecological effects of teacher resistant behaviors on consultant therapeutic behavior. The results of the study found that participants decreased therapeutic questioning in response to consultee's resistance. In addition, teacher resistance also led to increased missed sessions by the consultant and greater negative perceptions of the consultee by the consultant.

The Psychology of Diversity Resistance and Integration

“…It is important to listen and convey support at this point to decrease resistance, whereas efforts to confront or teach the client would produce the opposite effect (J. Cautilli, Tillman, Axelrod, Dziewolska, & Hineline, 2006). However, such approaches are shown to reduce resistance; there is a risk in being too accepting and supportive because it may slow an intervention and lead to the client not attaining the desired outcome (J.…”

“…The practitioner should begin from a position of not knowing and allowing the client to tell his or her story (Gold, 2008). It is important to listen and convey support at this point to decrease resistance, whereas efforts to confront or teach the client would produce the opposite effect (J. Cautilli, Tillman, Axelrod, Dziewolska, & Hineline, 2006).…”

Assessing treatment integrity in behavioral consultation.

“…Treatment plans implemented with poor integrity make it difficult to draw accurate inferences about the relationship between an intervention and behavior change (Gutkin, 1993). In many consultation cases, absent or weak treatment effects might be the result of an intervention's poor integrity, despite its demonstrated empirical support (Cautilli, Tillman, Axelrod, Dziewolska, Hineline, 2006; Cautilli, Riley-Tillman, Axelrod, & Hineline, 2005). According Gresham (1989), “Many failures in consultation and interventions probably can be attributed to the fact that intervention plans are not implemented as intended” (p. 137).…”

The role of verbal conditioning in third generation behavior therapy.

“…Clients' failures to do what they are supposed to do, can create frustration for the therapist. Recent research has found that consultee's resistance can punish consultant therapeutic behavior and that this can decrease consultant therapeutic statements and consultants' perception of their own effectiveness (Cautilli, 2005). More research needs to be done in this area, but it may be that this problem could lead consultant burnout.…”