My client won’t do as I say
One of the major challenges to the therapeutic alliance arises when the client fails to follow the therapist’s advice.
Leave contracts out of the first session
Many therapists set explicit goals and use treatment contracts with their clients. Goal setting provides a focus for therapy: contracts indicate that both parties have agreed to the terms of the therapy (or should: the contract you use does bind the therapist as well as the client, doesn’t it?)
Manipulative therapists get manipulative clients
“Manipulative” clients may be reacting to overly controlling therapists. Before using such a destructive label, it is worth asking why someone would need to manipulate their therapist if they have agreed common goals.