Forms and Transformations of Empathy: Subtleties and Complexities of Empathic Communication

The role of empathic understanding and responsiveness is central to therapies anchored in self psychology and intersubjectivity theory. The process of achieving and communicating empathic understanding, however, is complex and multiply determined. Understanding on a theoretical level the rationale for employing an empathic mode of observation and response does not necessarily mean that one knows how to do so effectively. To help bridge this gap between theory and practice, the author offers a series of concrete, experience-near suggestions or principles for enhancing empathic understanding and responsiveness. Starting with Kohut, several writers have stated their belief that empathic resonance is a skill that can be developed through training and learning. The author references these previous efforts and adds to them here by defining several choice points and subtleties of how we respond that can make empathic communication more effective. These suggestions emerged from the process of training and supervising mental health professionals in all disciplines and thus are presented as a resource not only for clinicians, but also for teachers and supervisors.