The capacity to communicate empathically with patients is the basis of psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychotherapies. Empathy is not part of the content of therapeutic communication;

The term “empathic,” as it describes the analyst's responses to the patient, specifically refers to the position from which the analyst responds. Usually this will be one of looking over the patient's shoulder at the transference figure, while sharing the surface emotion expressed. “Empathic” can also describe the position of looking over the shoulder of the transference figure toward that aspect of the patient making the projection.