Monday, September 15, 2008

The Importance of Empathy

The Importance of Empathy in the Therapeutic Alliance.
by Candi P. Feller , R. Rocco Cottone

In this investigation of the construct of empathy, the authors report that the literature reflects strong evidence that empathy is an essential component of the therapeutic alliance across theories and that empathy is necessary in the counseling process. The concept of empathy continues to be a central component of new forms of counseling and therapy.
Rogers (1957) conceptualized and specified six conditions that he considered to be both necessary and sufficient for therapeutic client change to occur. Rogers hypothesized that these six conditions apply to all psychotherapy, not just to client-centered therapy. These conditions require counselor congruence or genuineness in the therapeutic relationship, unconditional positive regard for the client (warmth), the ability of the counselor to empathize with the client in this relationship, and communication of empathy and unconditional positive regard to the client. Of the conditions defined by Rogers as both necessary and sufficient, empathy is the construct that has evoked the most attention from psychotherapy theorists and researchers.

An exerpt from The Importance of Empathy in the Therapeutic Alliance. Journal article by Candi P. Feller, R. Rocco Cottone; Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, Vol. 42, 2003

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