Adjunct Professor
Jewish General Hospital
4333 Cote Ste. Catherine Road
Montreal, PQ, H3T 1E4
Office: ICFP, Room 112
Phone: 514-340-8222 ext. 5195
E-mail: paule.delisle at mcgill.ca
Research Summary
Paradoxical Intervention: Impact on Therapeutic Alliance of Oppositional Psychiatric Patients
Therapy with treatment-resistant psychiatric patients has proven a challenge. Albeit patients’ resistance to treatment is more often the rule than the exception, a therapeutic impasse is particularly at risk with patients who oppose therapeutic alliance.
The patients are considered oppositional when they manifest a negative therapeutic alliance and express dissatisfaction with treatment during the first five therapy sessions. Preliminary clinical observations have suggested that paradox as an intervention strategy helps fostering an alliance with oppositional patients.
An outcome-process study is conducted comparing and analyzing oppositional and non-oppositional therapy subjects’ alliance with regards to paradoxical intervention.
Updated: April, 2012
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