1. By: Tamara Avery, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist

2.  Defining Empathy
 Two skills needed for empathy
 Questions to think about
 Empathic listening techniques
 Power of reflective listening
 Why do we use empathic listening?
 Barriers to empathic listening

3.  Empathy is the skill of reflecting back to
another person the emotions he or she is
expressing so that he or she feels heard and
understood.
 Empathy involves listening to others,
understanding them, and communicating this
understanding to them. –Egan 1994
 Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to
some extent, share feelings that are being
experienced by another. –Rogers 1959

4.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG11gmv
0p9s
 This video is a different look at empathy…and
possibly an important one….especially if you
deal with other people on a daily basis…
◦ By: John Marshall Roberts (Empathy Expert)

5.  To perceive and be aware of another's
situation while taking into account another’s
point of view (ex: putting yourself in their
shoes).
 Using both verbal (words) and nonverbal
(actions, physical cues) ways of
communicating helps you be perceptive to
others thoughts and feelings.

6.  Am I compassionate enough to care about
understand the other persons’ feelings?
 Can I put myself in the other persons’ shoes so
completely that I do not criticize or judge them?
 Can I let myself enter in to the others’ feelings
and personal meanings to see these the way they
do?
 Practicing empathy daily can help with any of the above
questions you answered no to.

7.  Verbal and Non-Verbal Encouragers- these
communicate to the person that:
 I am listening (ex: eye contact, nodding of the
head, smiling)
 I want to listen (ex: you are not checking your watch ever 5
minutes or rolling your eyes, sighing, etc)
 I want to understand more about your experience (ex:
asking related and relevant questions to collect more
information…such as “can you tell me more about that” or
“I am curious about…”)

8.  Reflective Listening can be a powerful tool of
communication. In reflective listening, you simply
reflect to the other person what you think you
heard, making sure you reflect their feelings.
◦ For example: Sally: I really don’t want to work anymore. I
like being home spending time with my children.
 Reflection: So what I am hearing you say is that you like, and
prefer being home with your children rather than working.
 Using reflective listening allows the other person
to feel as though you have listened to what they
have said and is clear that you understood them.

9.  Video 1
◦ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viuFhVd9Okw&f
eature=relmfu
 Video 2
◦ The conclusion….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIUCdfhoofQ&fe
ature=relmfu

10.  To show an interest in the other person
 To support another in their attempts to
rectify a situation
 Empathic listening is therapeutic in itself
 It leads to an increase in another’s
satisfaction of you
 To discover another’s needs and concerns

11.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrTwCB1H
SEM
 Click on the above link to watch the video on
controlled empathy and trauma.

12.  Cultural Differences
 Gender
 Not viewing the other individual as an equal
 Your preconceived ideas and beliefs
 Your uncomfortableness with another’s
emotions

13.  Being empathic is something that may not
come natural to all people.
 Practicing the techniques mentioned
(reflective listening, encouragers) can help
you become more empathic.
 Non-verbal communications and gestures
play a key role in whether others believe you
are there to help or hinder (hurt) the
situation.

14.  More information and links on empathy…
◦ http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type
=doc&id=37708&cn=298
◦ http://www.eqi.org/empathy.htm
◦ http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Empathy