Have you ever watched one of those old war movies when the German SS officer turns to the captured hero of the story and hisses: 'Resistance is futile!' Well, resistance is never futile (and certainly not in old war movies, where the good guys tend to win and overcome all the odds). Resistance is part of the push and pull of life. So when a professional therapist comes across resistance in a client, the most critical thing is not to take it personally.

Sometimes, this resistance can be flipped and used. Like a lever, or just as a martial arts expert uses the weight of their opponent to defeat them. Resistance is, after all, just motivation and effort in an SS uniform. You have to learn to work with the enemy.

Take the example of a highly intelligent client who gives clear and concise reasons why 'giving up smoking' is not for them, despite the well-publicised health benefits. A therapist can work with a client so that this powerful resistance and cynicism about the health messages is refocused on the cigarette's themselves; the massive advertising campaigns and sponsorship used to sell them.

It's also important not to see resistance where none may exist. A client who turns up late for a session may simply be late (if they've had to use public transport, it's almost inevitable). Never assume that lateness is a tacit expression of lack of commitment on their part.

And if it really is resistance, work with it - negotiate around it. Take it and use it. Make it heroic. It's what our hero in the old war movie would have done.

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