Understanding Empathy

Abstract

This article considers different understandings of empathy in psychotherapy and transactional analysis, including Carl Rogers's contribution to the development and understanding of empathy. A review of his necessary and sufficient conditions for therapeutic change clarifies the bilateral and intersubjective nature of empathic understanding, empathy, and empathic transactions. Various aspects of empathy are elaborated in terms of Stark's (1999) taxonomy of psychologies, and a fourth, two-person-plus psychology, is proposed to reflect an empathy that is sociocentric rather than egocentric._____

Taking counselling and psychotherapy outside: Destruction or enrichment of the therapeutic frame?

“…An implication here is that therapist and client are constantly aware of (both consciously and unconsciously), and responding to, the presence of this vibrant living third in the dynamic. This moves therapy beyond the two person psychological world of relational psychotherapy in to a two and half person psychology (Tudor, 2009). In this 'mode of therapeutic action' (Stark, 1999) the significance of the environment in which therapy takes place is accounted for.…”

“…In this 'mode of therapeutic action' (Stark, 1999) the significance of the environment in which therapy takes place is accounted for. The focus shifts to a 'multi-directional' relating style and a methodological emphasis on what Tudor refers to as 'interspection: -a process of reflecting on what is in between -and beyond-therapist and client' (Tudor, 2009).…”

The Creation Of Professional Empathy During Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration.

“…Ruling out assumptions can be of help in the early stages of multi-stakeholder collaboration, to later on avoid clashes [15]. To help stakeholders understand one another's perspective, empathy can be used [16].…”

“…People tend to make assumptions and think they know about the person or organization they are working with, while they actually do not. When creating trust it is vital that assumptions are ruled out and stakeholders are as open as possible to each other about their own, and their organization's intentions [13,14,15,16]. This will establish the right sort of interpersonal communication based on empathic behavior [30].…”

Benvingut Rogers a Espanya o de què tracta, realment, l'empatia

“…Segons Rogers tals condicions relacionals bàsiques funcionaven independentment del model terapèutic, en el què estigueren sent aplicades. La hipòtesi sobre l'eficàcia de les condicions bàsiques va produir un fort impacte en la comunitat psicoterapèutica del moment, la qual cosa va potenciar la seua investigació durant dècades, tant de defensors com de detractors (Tudor, 2011). Açò va produir un ampli i llarg debat que ha passat per diferents etapes i moments i que sembla emergir en un major acord i integració.…”