HealthFlex
×
  • About
  • Choose a THERAPIST
  • FAQ
  • Psychotherapy Hours
  • Appointments & Fees
  • Blog
  • Help
    • Addictions
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • LGBTQA Issues
    • OCD Obsessive-compulsive disorder
    • Phobias
    • Sexual Problems
    • Stress

Resistance to change – Executive Psychotherapy

December 14, 2015adminExecutive Psychotherapy

Resistance to change. Executives with problems they cannot solve, but which others have solved, may be afflicted by resistance to change.

All over the world executives complain that resistance to change is a major problem they face when trying to improve their organisations. When we see resistance to change in others it seems obstructive and self-defeating, yet when resistance to change comes from us, it is reasonable, appropriately cautious, self-protective, and a rational response to irrational proposals for an unreasonable and unnecessary change.

Executives experience the same human reaction when faced with changes as the rest of the population. Resistance to change is a human universal. When the change is imposed from without, we resist. When the change is driven from with, we embrace it; are even inspired by the anticipated change. 

What does that mean when a leader has a problem that takes him/her to executive psychotherapy? It means that resistance to change becomes a barrier to solving the problem.

If you ask any experienced psychotherapist which group of clients are the most resistant to change, to solving their problems, most, if not all, will say, highly intelligent, well-educated executives and professionals.

Why would executives who have so often seen the destructive effects of resistance to change be the people who have the highest resistance to change when it comes to their own problems? 

Alas, the very intellectual talents that enable a person to become an executive or top professional are the same ones that disable them when it comes to solving their own problems in executive psychotherapy.

Highly intelligent, well-educated executives and professionals (unknowingly) trap themselves in their problem space by use of their reasoning skills. They can successfully argue that black is white, wet is dry, day is night: that reasoning power is (inadvertently) directed in a self-destructive way.

Resistance to change in the hands of such skilled reasoning, quickly becomes the most rational, logical and reasonable position ever taken. The proposed change discussed in executive psychotherapy is such an act of irrationality that it crosses the line of insanity, according to the afflicted executive.

The executive afflicted by a problem can and does muster his/her reasoning skills to justify staying exactly where they are. All proposed improvements, all proposed methods to address their problem, are completely inappropriate, irrational, ill-informed, misguided, incomplete, too late, too early, require too much effort, can’t possibly be effective because they require too little effort… the list is endless. The proposed method, rather than improving or solving their problem is likely to lead to a marked and immediate deterioration.

Such reasoning, in the hands of a problemed executive takes resistance to change to new levels. All very impressive if they were fighting some evil force. Alas, they are directed by the executive to keep the executive exactly where s/he is; to (unknowingly) perpetuate their problem. And resist anything suggested in psychotherapy.

How do you know if the real problem is resistance to change (as opposed to the presented problem – stress, depression, anxiety, etc)?

Here are just some of the many indicators.

If the person…

1. Seeks to blame the current psychotherapist.
2. Has had two or more psychotherapists (who have been blamed for lack of results)
3. Spends most therapy justifying their position.
4. Rejects all methods, approaches and exercises.
5. Uses “yes-butting” more frequently than usual.
6. Starts by agreeing and quickly, and habitually rounds on the points being presented.
7. Refuses to engage in therapeutic developmental exercises.
8. Claims to agree, but takes no action with methods presented.
9. Goes through the motions of a method and then claims to see no benefit, repeatedly.

10. Attempts to diminish the therapist, or claim that the therapist does “the same thing.”

If you think that your real problem may be your resistance to change, and wish to book an appointment,

call Prof MacLennan on Telephone Number

Copyright Prof Nigel MacLennan 2015

Recent Posts

  • One Session Psychotherapy
  • i Shrink: Be your own best therapist
  • Advances in psychotherapy
  • NHS Staff – FREE Psychotherapy and Counselling
  • How much do we cause our own illnesses and problems?

Archives

  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • May 2020
  • March 2020
  • December 2019
  • January 2019
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • August 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • July 2015

Categories

  • Executive Psychotherapy
  • Uncategorized

Latest Blogs and Articles

Read latest articles

Choosing a Therapist in London or Luton.

logo

Prof (Dr) Nigel MacLennan, Chartered Psychologist, provides psychotherapy for executives and professionals in London and Luton. Dr MacLennan has developed many new, and improved psychological techniques to help executives and professionals solve their problems and improve their lives.

Working hours: 09:00-17:00 hours (Monday to Friday)

Dr Nigel MacLennan, Soho Square, London W1D 3QL4

Dr Nigel MacLennan, Leagrave, Luton LU4 9AN

Latest Articles

  • One Session Psychotherapy Oct 20

  • i Shrink: Be your own best therapist Aug 25

  • Advances in psychotherapy May 11

Copyright ©2017 www.drnigelmaclennan.uk all rights reserved
Designed by Wordpress Experts