This is a slide presentation on empathic validation for communication skills.

1. EMPATHIC VALIDATION
Assoc Prof Dr Tuti Iryani Mohd Daud
Consultant Psychiatrist & Senior Lecturer
National University of Malaysia

2. Learning outcomes
• Define empathy
• List the importance of empathy
• Describe how to demonstrate empathy, particularly by
using empathic validation

4. What is empathy?

5. Definition
“The ability to perceive and feel the world from the
subjective experience of another person.”
(Misch & Peloquin, 2005, p. 42)

6. Why is empathy important?

7. Therapeutic relationship (Spiro, 2009)
Adherence to treatment (Ogle et al, 2013)
Better health outcome (Riess, 2010; Boyle, et al., 2010)

8. How to show empathy?

9. Encourage expression of feelings
Acknowledge
Normalize
Validate
Ask open questions
Maintain eye contact
Allow time to integrate
Offer tissues
Provide hope and reassurance
Ditton-Phare P, Sandhu H, Kelly B, Kissane D, Loughland C. Pilot Evaluation of a Communication Skills Training Program for Psychiatry Residents Using
Standardized Patient Assessment. Acad Psychiatry. 2016; 40(5):768–75

10. Empathic validation

11. “I tried explaining to my mum
why the job is not suitable for me…
but she wouldn’t listen.
She ended up doing most of the talking.”

12. 1. Name the emotion and say:
“You seem (emotion)” or “It seems that you are feeling (emotion)”
“You sound (emotion)” or “It sounds like you are feeling (emotion)”
2. Acknowledge the source of the emotion and say:
“It sounds like you are feeling(emotion) because ……….”
e.g. “It sounds like you are feeling disappointed because you are not feeling
heard.”
3. Acknowledge difficulty and say:
“It must be difficult for you.”
“It must be hard.”

13. Examples

14. Patient
“Alan was supposed to do the
design. When I checked this
morning.. It’s not done yet.
This is not the first time. He has
done this before… every time we
gave him a task… he doesn’t do
them. ”
Response
“It sounds like you are feeling
frustrated because your co-
worker has not been responsible.”
“It must be difficult for you.”

15. Patient
“I am in a mess.
I have an assignment
due next week.
I have to prepare for an
interview,
which is also next week.
And now my car broke down!”
Response
“It sounds like you are feeling
overwhelmed, as so many things
are happening at the same
time.”
“It must be difficult for you.”

16. Avoid saying…
“I understand how you feel…”
“Everything will be OK”
“Don’t be (emotion)”

17. SUMMARY
Empathy improves health outcomes.
Empathic validation is one of the various ways to
demonstrate empathy.