In workshops there are many situations of personal uncertainties, maybe sometimes unclarities or difficulties participants experience, which naturally causes them to react in many ways.
As facilitators, their reactions can help us understand them better and touch on their issues. One of the most important reactions we can work with is Resistance. To elaborate on this psychological term, we’ve summarized from
“Introduction to Group Therapy” by S.S. Fehr
Definition
Resistance is an ongoing Ego – Defense Mechanism that is active when an individual is confronted with thoughts and feelings that generate anxiety.
Ego Defense Mechanisms are used to reduce anxiety and tension, protect the integrity of the ego, and protect the self from devaluation and hurt.
Many times, it is perceived by the therapist/ facilitator as a negative response, and the client is labeled as ‘difficult’ or as fighting the process.
Actually, Resistance can give the facilitator a good direction and understanding of previously unresolved conflicts in the client that have remained unconscious.
Sometimes resistance is perceived as resistance to get well, but it is really a resistance to change; although a conflict or unresolved issues may be a burden for the client- they are at least familiar, whereas change is a scary experience for most people. Most clients are completely unaware on a conscious level, that they are resisting.
The sensitive facilitator is encouraged to be keenly aware of issues in groups that cause discomfort in the individual group member, as a source of underlying, unresolved conflicts.
Two main mechanisms that can relate or be perceived as Resistance
1. Acting Out
Some people who reach a high level of anxiety might do acting out.
In groups, a group member can show hostility to the leader and the group for some real or imagined narcissistic injury. The group member might arrive late, for sessions, forget to bring assignments/payments thus breaking the group contract.
*It might be comforting for them if others feel anxiety as well due to their acting out.
2. Projection
The inability of an individual to distinguish between the internal and the external.
Many unconscious processes remain unconscious due to the threat they evoke, and they become parts of our personality that are denied and cannot be seen directly, however people remain sensitive to them and therefore tend to see it in others.
Others are blamed for one’s own feelings, needs, and cognition. If a client will see high aggression in someone/ in the facilitator where others can’t agree- it might be Projection.
