This document discusses empathy and empathic listening. It defines empathy as reflecting another person's emotions back to them so they feel heard and understood. Developing empathy requires listening, understanding others' perspectives, and communicating that understanding. The document provides techniques for empathic listening, including verbal and nonverbal encouragers and reflective listening. It also discusses why empathic listening is used and potential barriers to being empathic like cultural differences.

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