Initial response to therapy is likely to be enthusiastic and optimistic, at least in part because the clients have strong needs to be liked. However,they will be slow to gain insight into the underlying motives for their behavior because they use extensive denial and repression, typically denying the presence of any psychological problems. Often they will look for simplistic, concrete, and naive solutions to their problems. They would be likely to attempt to manipulate the therapist into a supportive and nonconfrontive role. As their defenses become challenged, they might be- come more manipulative, perhaps resorting to complaints of mistreatment and not being understood. At times, they may even become verbally aggressive. Their core conflicts are usually centered on issues of dependence versus independence. Often direct suggestion focusing on short-term goals is effective in creating change.