BEHAVIOR THERAPY 15, 144--155 (1984) Observation of Client Resistance PATRICIA CHAMBERLAIN GERALD PATTERSON JOHN REID KATHRYN KAVANAGH MARION FORGATCH Oregon Social Learning Center, Eugene An observation system developed to measure client resistance was used to code videotaped therapy sessions at three phases of treatment for 27 families referred for child management problems. Resistance scores covaried with phase of treat- ment, probability of completing treatment, source of referral (i.e., agency vs. self), and therapist ratings of treatment outcome, The utility of a molecular coding system for quantifying client resistance in treatment and the construct validity of the observation system received moderate support. Resistance to change in therapy is a phenomenon well represented in the clinical literature. The major schools of therapy have conceptualized the treatment of resistance in a manner relating to their own theories about how people change. While the clinical literature is replete with examples of various techniques for dealing with client resistance (e.g., Lazarus & Fay, 1982; Madanes, 198 l; Spinks & Birchler, 1982), data on the effectiveness of these methods have been primarily anecdotal in nature (e.g., Palazzoli, Cecchin, Prata, & Boscolo, 1978). A major difficulty in conducting research on resistance is in the definition and operationali- zation of the construct. Traditionally, the study of resistance has been focused on either the global disposition or attitude on the part of the client (e.g., Blatt & Erlich, 1982) or on the quality of the "facilitative conditions" (i.e., accurate empathy, nonpossessive warmth and genuineness, Truax, 1966) offered by the therapist that are hypothesized to counteract resistance and enhance positive client changes (e.g., Lambert, DeJulio, & Stein, 1978). Studies This research has been supported by a grant from the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Requests for reprints should be sent to Patricia Chamberlain, Oregon Social Learning Center, 207 East 5th Avenue, Suite 202, Eugene, OR 97401. 144 0005-7894/84/0144-015551.00/0 Copyright 1984 by Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy Allrights of reproduction in any formreserved.