ABSTRACT
Numerous interactions impacting on the progress of psychotherapy transpire between client influences (motivation, expectations, personality disorders, reinforcement parameters, complexity, resistance and noncompliance, impaired states and processes for mental health, transference) and the therapist influences (countertransference, emotional factors, personality factors, skill factors). The most relevant interactions are addressed and therapeutic strategies identified. Transference and countertransference interactions amplify the effect of these influences, with intriguing client examples provided covering the positive and negative spectrum. Personality interactions can really impede progress when both the client and therapist are disagreeable and/or reactive. Client challenges to therapist skills particularly pertain to expectations, motivation, resistance and noncompliance, and complexity.
