Clinical Practice SWES Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Resource

In ego psychology, consistent lateness for appointments is interpreted as a sign of ambivalence and resistance. This perspective highlights the inner conflicts an individual may experience regarding therapy or the therapeutic relationship. Lateness can be seen as a manifestation of ambivalence toward the process of change or the therapeutic alliance itself—it suggests that the person may have mixed feelings about attending sessions or about the work involved in therapy.

This notion of resistance is important in therapeutic settings, as it can indicate underlying issues that need to be explored. Understanding this behavior allows therapists to address the ambivalence directly, fostering open dialogue about the client's feelings toward therapy. By acknowledging and working through these resistances, therapists can facilitate deeper insights and progress in treatment.

Other answers suggest different interpretations of therapy dynamics, but they do not capture the essence of resistance and ambivalence that is central to the understanding of consistent lateness in this psychological framework. For example, the concept of shorter session needs and ineffective treatment relates to other aspects of clinical evaluation and may not directly address the motivations behind a client's behavior in therapy settings. Acceptance of therapy would imply a more positive engagement with the process, which contrasts with the idea of lateness as a sign of ambivalence.