Resistance in Therapy: Why We Avoid What Heals Us

When therapy seems to "stop working"

You attend sessions regularly, yet something feels blocked. You start arriving late, forgetting what you wanted to discuss, or suddenly feeling therapy is pointless. This is what psychotherapy calls resistance.

What is resistance?

Resistance is an unconscious mechanism that protects us from painful content. It can manifest as intellectualising, changing the subject, cancelling sessions, or unexplained anger at the therapist.

Why resistance matters

In psychodynamic therapy, resistance is not an obstacle but a guide. It points to the most important, most protected psychological material.

Working with resistance

A good therapist never forces you to confront something you're not ready for. Instead, they gently explore what makes certain topics so difficult to approach.

Resistance is not a failure. It's a natural part of the therapeutic journey that deserves the same attention as any other emotion.