Topic: resistance manipulation ambivalence

There are just too many different forms of manipulation for any of us to be uniformly good at identifying them on the fly.

One sign of vulnerability: the place tended to be too busy or too slow.

It seems to me that it’s entirely possible for one person to be lying, ambivalent, and in denial at the same time.

Try thinking of recovery as a learning process based in experience rather than the acquisition of information.

It’s an unconscious process. Not an exercise of will; more like a reflex.

Their targets often know or strongly suspect they’re being manipulated, but give in anyway because they can’t figure out how to avoid it.

Others enter counseling with no intention of changing at all. Their goal is simply to placate some authority.

If we want to see any progress, we’ll have to figure out a way to break this apparent impasse.

At its root, treatment is primarily a work relationship– with goals that need to be accomplished, and outcomes that must be kept in mind.

Really resistant clients are already planning to continue using alcohol or drugs throughout treatment, possibly in secret.