Yes I get the nuance you are talking about. And it's endemic (not just in therapy) and it's very hard to argue against it in the moment itself - usually I experience a sense of negativity or criticism that is quite difficult to explain and only later can pinpoint it to semantics.

I think you are quite right - resistant has pejorative connotations while cautious is neutral or even positive. Resistant in any terms not just therapeutic, comes across as holding the meaning that one 'shouldn't' be resistant, and so definitely negative. Even 'overcautious' is better.

Having said that, in therapy at least, the term resistant often means an unconscious mechanism whereas being cautious would be seen as a much more aware and deliberate thing. So maybe your therapist wasn't meaning it negatively so much as trying to point up stuff going on in you of which you might not have been aware?

Whatever, it would piss me off to be told I'm resistant so yeah, I really like the way you explained it to your T. Wish I could be quick and smart like that.

Torn

p.s.

I meant to comment on this, and agree. I do think Ts can insulate themselves against failure (or mistakes) by their choice of words being intended to pathologize the client and allowing them to hide behind the facade of professionalism. As in, them all knowing doctors, you sicko patient type of defence...