ABSTRACT
Much of the literature devoted to examining the power dimension embedded in therapeutic relationships suggests that professionals wield considerable power. Such findings do not, however, reflect the subjective sense of powerlessness that seems to be experienced by many therapists in their day-to-day work. The sentiment expressed in the above extract is a common, if largely unexpressed, lament from therapists struggling to retain control over resistant or recalcitrant patients/clients. This gap between literature and experience provided impetus for further research.
