Explore the differences between empathy and sympathy in psychotherapy

1. By NICHOLAS MUNRO
EMPATHY
AND
SYMPATHY IN
PSYCHOTHERAPY
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2. Conceptualising empathy
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References
3
EMPATHY AND SYMPATHY IN PSYCHOTHERAPY
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2 Distinguishing empathy from sympathy
Empathy and sympathy in psychotherapy ©
2021 by Nicholas Munro is licensed under CC BY-NC
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3. Conceptualising empathy
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Einfühlung
Into Feeling
From the German word . . .
(Wispé, 1986)
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proceed
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4. • Tracking changes in thoughts
and feelings that the client
reports and experiences,
• Trying to imagine and
experience what it is like to be
and live like the client,
• Communicating the sensory experience
that the therapist has about their client to
the client in verbal and non-verbal ways,
• Frequently checking in with the
client about your experience of
their experience,
• Laying aside your own identity,
views, and values (Rogers, 1975).
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Conceptualising empathy
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Carl Rogers (1902-1987),
regards empathy in the
therapeutic relationship as:
• Sensing and experiencing what is
going on in client’s internal world
(i.e., their thoughts and feelings),
(Rogers, 1975)
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5. In therapy, both empathy and sympathy
involve attempts to respond to what a client is
experiencing. But, these attempts differ in
terms of “the four A’s:
(Clarke, 2010)
2 Distinguishing empathy from sympathy
• Aim
• Appraisal
• Apprehension
• Agreement
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Learn more
about the four
A’s

6. (Clarke, 2010)
• Aim
the therapist
aims to express
their
understanding
of the client
Empathy
by expressing
Sympathy
by expressing
the therapist
aims to express
his/her
compassion for
the client
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7. (Clarke, 2010)
• Appraisal
the therapist
appraises (or
values) the client by
being attuned to and
identifying with the
client
Empathy
by expressing
Sympathy
by expressing
the therapist may not
appraise (or value) the
client in appropriate
ways (e.g., may
undervalue or
disempower the client)
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8. (Clarke, 2010)
• Apprehension
the therapist
apprehends (or
perceives) the client
deeply and with
meaning
Empathy
by expressing
Sympathy
by expressing
the therapist may not
apprehend (or
perceive) the client in
deep and meaningful
ways
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9. (Clarke, 2010)
• Agreement
the therapist does not
always agree with
the client
Empathy
by expressing
Sympathy
by expressing
the therapist always
agrees with the client’s
assessment of their
circumstances
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Sympathy
becomes
empathy
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sympathy_Becomes_Empathy.png

10. Clarke, A. J. (2010). Empathy and sympathy: Therapeutic distinctions in counselling. Journal
of Mental Health Counseling, 32(2), 95-101.
https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.32.2.228n116thw397504
Egan, G. (2010). The skilled helper. A problem management and opportunity development
approach to helping (9th ed.). Cengage.
Rogers, C. R. (1975). Empathic: An unappreciated way of being. The Counseling
Psychologist, 5(2), 2–10. https://doi.org/10.1177/001100007500500202
Stern, J. A., & Cassidy, J. (2018). Empathy from infancy to adolescence: An attachment
perspective on the development of individual differences. Developmental Review, 47, 1-22.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2017.09.002.
Wispé, L. (1986). The distinction between sympathy and empathy: To call forth a concept, a
word is needed. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50, 314–321
References
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