This article focused on the idea of empathy and how it is addressed in the therapeutic and/or counseling fields. It first expresses a need for empathy in these fields. This need revolves around the fact that therapists are often dominating conversation during client/therapist sessions, and that this focus on “the expert” is actually unhealthy. Rogers, a therapist, defined empathy with an ‘as if’ situation. A therapist must approach every topic with his or her client ‘as if’ he or she were the client. An “Accurate Empathy Scale” is in place, which ranks any given therapist on a scale of 1 to 8, 1 being low and 8 being high. Over time, research has been gathered to conclude that empathy is the gateway to therapeutic progress, and the ideal therapist is first and foremost empathetic.
Let's have a big round of applause for Mr. Rogers, ventriloquist extraordinaire! Who knew he studied therapy in his spare time? Come to think of it, this guy probably has a doctorate. Anyway, he's a pioneer with empathy in therapy, so definitely check this article out. Link is in red.
Citation:
Rogers, C. (1975). Empathic: an unappreciated way of being. The Counseling Psychologist, 5(2- 10), 1-16. http://www.sageofasheville.com/pub_downloads/EMPATHIC_AN_UNAPPRECIATED_WAY_OF_BEING.pdf
Let's have a big round of applause for Mr. Rogers, ventriloquist extraordinaire! Who knew he studied therapy in his spare time? Come to think of it, this guy probably has a doctorate. Anyway, he's a pioneer with empathy in therapy, so definitely check this article out. Link is in red.
Citation:
Rogers, C. (1975). Empathic: an unappreciated way of being. The Counseling Psychologist, 5(2- 10), 1-16. http://www.sageofasheville.com/pub_downloads/EMPATHIC_AN_UNAPPRECIATED_WAY_OF_BEING.pdf