Empathy and Sympathy: A Therapeutic Distinction

Caption:  Aw, you look so sad!

URL: https://pixabay.com/en/dog-weimaraner-portrait-1742295/

Empathy and Sympathy: A Therapeutic Distinction

Empathy and sympathy are caring concepts that are sometimes confused by counselors. It is important that we distinguish them from each other in our practice as empathy has therapeutic implications, and sympathy does not (Clark, 2010). Sympathy defined, are feelings towards or for someone, whereas empathy is the ability to understand feelings in someone. Normally sympathy is more synonymous with agreement or validation of how someone feels. From a professional standpoint, this can lead to a desire to want to fix people, not empowering the client, or even ethical issues such as dual relationships. Empathy, on the other hand, can begin to help the client gain understanding that empowers them to change (Meier & Davis, 2011). Empathy appraises the client by showing attunement to their feelings, where sympathy would desire to share expressions of feelings toward the client (Clark, 2010). Even a prominent statement like, “I’m sorry you are feeling…,” is an expression of judgment or agreement. It does not show the client that you are understanding them. A much better response would be to reflect the feeling saying something as simple as, “I hear you are feeling…” Clark (2010) on researching Carl Rogers also found that empathy may come about in different ways. Empathy can be subjective, interpersonal, or objective. Interpersonal empathy is the type we are most familiar with, with the counselor trying to understand the phenomenological experience of the client. Subjective empathy is special in that the counselor has experienced something similar to the client and they are able to identify with the client. Objective empathy is the use of sources, assessments, or other observable data from the client that can help the counselor empathize better (Clark, 2010). As counselors it is important to understand what empathy is and how it is used as it is such an integral part to many counseling techniques and interventions.  

References:

Clark, A. J. (2010). Empathy and sympathy: Therapeutic distinctions in counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 32(2), 95-101.

Clark, A. J. (2010). Empathy: An integral model in the counseling process. Journal of Counseling and Development, 88(3), 348-356.

Meier, S. T., & Davis, S. R. (2011). The elements of counseling. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

The Challenge of Confrontation in Counseling

Caption: Confrontation in Counseling
URL: https://pixabay.com/en/face-silhouette-communication-535769/

            One of the more advanced challenging skills counselors must learn is confrontation (Young, 2017).  This skill allows counselors to identify inconsistencies in a client’s story.  Through confrontation, clients gain an awareness of discrepancies in their beliefs, behaviors, words, or nonverbal messages.  As a result, clients are educated to take responsibility for their actions or behaviors and ownership of their feelings.  In turn, clients usually become motivated to resolve inconsistencies in their lives.  Through confrontation, counselors are still working towards their overarching goal of empowering their clients.  In order to use a challenging skill successfully, counselors need to build rapport with their clients first and foster a strong therapeutic relationship.  Counselors also should engage in self-awareness of their own thoughts, behaviors, and actions before confronting their client in a therapeutic session (Young, 2017).    

            Confronting clients about their maladaptive behavior can be challenging for counselors (Leaman, 1978).  Before confronting a client, counselors must be aware of the intense emotional reactions their client may have in response to this process.  Accordingly, it is imperative for counselors to approach confrontation from a genuine, empathetic perspective.  Counselors need to be sensitive and compassionate towards their clients with confrontation.

            The use of confrontation is a way counselors can challenge their clients to examine maladaptive behavior in their life (Strong and Zeman, 2010).  Through this process, clients can experience growth and improvement.  Knowing that confrontation is a direct skill, it must be approached carefully and used with caution.  Foundational listening skills should be used in counseling sessions where counselors are pointing out discrepancies in a client’s behavior. 

References

Leaman, D. R. (1978). Confrontation in counseling. Personnel & Guidance Journal, 56(10), 630-633.

Strong, T. & Zeman, D. (2010). Dialogic considerations of confrontation as a counseling activity: An examination of Allen Ivey’s use of confronting as a microskill. Journal of Counseling and Development, 88, (3), 332-339.

Young, M. (2017). Learning the art of helping, 6^th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

One’s Unique Worldview

Caption: The Lens Through Which You View the World

URL: https://docsandlin.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/worldview.jpg

While many individuals share the same race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or social status, each person is a unique human being with their own personal story. Throughout life, we experience many difficulties, and we are potentially taught what to believe by our parents or peers. We construct beliefs and even cultivate unconscious prejudices as we navigate this life.

Understanding that each individual is unique and has their own worldview is important as counselors. However, our clients oftentimes will not directly tell us their worldview. We must carefully listen and attempt to understand their meaning system in order to fully grasp how they view the world (Young, 2017). Clients may experience the same circumstance in their lives, yet respond in a completely different manner due to their worldview and the meaning ascribed to the event. Leontiev (2007) stated that individuals tend to see things as “we are” as opposed to seeing things as “they are.” Therefore, we begin to have a narrow focus and filter our experiences through the worldview that we possess even though that worldview might be inaccurate or unhealthy.

            Regarding the meaning given to certain situations and circumstances, Leontiev (2005) indicated that our activities, our consciousness, and our personality work together to form meaning. Therefore, when counselors attempt to practice the skill of reflecting meaning, they are essentially seeking to understand the client’s background and perspective about life and various situations (Young, 2017). While it may be a difficult skill to learn, it is important to practice as the client will feel valued and respected. Furthermore, it may help the counselor gain insight regarding the situation and allow him or her to adequately help the client achieve a state of wellness.

References

Leontiev, D. A. (2005). Three facets of meaning. Journal of Russian & East European Psychology, 43(6), 45-72.

Leontiev, D. A. (2007). Approaching worldview structure with ultimate meanings technique. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 47(2), 243-266.

Young, M. E. (2017). Learning the art of helping: Building blocks and techniques. Pearson Higher Ed.

Culturally Competent

Caption: Muslim Little Boy and His Mushaf

URL: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/181410691220039336/

          Culture refers to a community that provides members of a particular group of people with information about their worldview, personal identity, and social behaviors (Meir & Davis, 2011). Cultural norms can be very powerful amongst the individuals, so it is imperative that the counselor educates him or herself on the specifics of the client. These norms could simply be described as the rules that the group uses for stating what is seen as appropriate and inappropriate behaviors, values, beliefs, attitudes. Due to the diverse population in which the counselor ministers to, he can at times find himself caught between cultures rather in a particular one (Heyer, 2012). The counselor must be competent in these areas of diversity. However, being competent does not mean being an expert. Competency is typically described as awareness of our own attitudes and possible biases towards other cultures, understanding another’s culture in a non-judgmental and empathetic way, and using strategies that are culturally appropriate for the client (Meir & Davis, 2011). We as counselors, should strive to better understand our client’s behaviors in context to their cultural background. The client is there for assistance and it is the counselor’s responsibility to best help him or her. This can be quite challenging due to so many cultures in the world. If the counselor lacks knowledge on a particular culture, he or she should seek supervision to help with the current situation. Kennedy (2000) shares that receiving supervision is a lifelong process which is used to enhance and refine counselors’ skills throughout their professional careers. We as counselors, will never completely fulfill this cultural competency, but it is our job to try.

References

Heyer, G. (2012). Caught between cultures: cultural norms in Jungian psychodynamic        process. Journal of Analytical Psychology, 57: 629–644.

Kennedy, A. L. (2000). Supervision for practicing genetic counselors: An overview of        models. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 9(5), 379.

Meir, S., & Davis, S. (2011). Elements of Counseling. 7^th edition. Belmont, CA: Brooks

            Cole. Cengage.