1. Empathy Interviewing Skills Lesson 8 CNS 584 Duba, 2008

2. Empathy • Basic Empathy • Responses are roughly interchangeable with those of the client • Additive Empathy • Responses include an addition of what the client said (providing a link to what has been said earlier or another perspective) • Subtractive Empathy • Responses distort or take away from the meaning expressed by and experience of client Duba, 2008

3. Empathy cont.[Cochran, J. L., & Cochran, N. H. (2006). The heart of counseling. (pp.47, 50-57, 62-63). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth] • Empathy is deeply feeling what another person feels in any given moment in that person’s unique life experience • Experiencing the inner world of another • It allows for • Joining between counselor and client • Self-awareness and self-experience of counselor and client • Aid in future communication Duba, 2008

4. Empathy cont.(Cochran, & Cochran, 2006) What Gets in the Way of Empathy • Habit • Avoidance of pain • Fear of feelings • “Instead of working to feel clients, I must work to prevent strong emotions.” • Misattributed responsibility • Worry about errors in empathy • Worry about moving client out of bad feelings • Letting go of control Duba, 2008

5. Empathy cont.(Cochran, & Cochran, 2006) Expressing Empathy • Strive to feel with your client • Be prepared to accept corrections • Match client’s tone • Facial expression and body language • The most over means – words • Naming the feeling Duba, 2008

6. Empathetic Dimensions • Positive Regard – seeing the client as a worthy human being • Respect and warmth – respecting points of view different from one’s own; smiling and other related nonverbals • Concreteness – being specific and clear Duba, 2008

7. Empathetic Dimensions cont. • Immediacy – “here and now;” “I-you” talk • Nonjudgmental attitude – avoiding evaluation • Authenticity or Congruence – being yourself and allowing the client the same Duba, 2008