Seven Innovative Empathic Responses Used During Empathetic Counselling Services

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Empathy is when you understand the other person’s emotions and feelings. You feel them and give them a response accordingly. An empathetic person would not judge others and communicates to understand. There are three basic types of empathy, which includes:

Cognitive empathy:

It is the type of empathy in which one person feels and understands what the other person is feeling. It can also be called perspective-taking.

Emotional Empathy:

If one person physically feels the pain or joy of another person, then this can be referred to as cognitive empathy.

Compassionate Empathy:

Compassionate empathy is when a person tries to help the other person after understanding their perspective.

Why should Counsellors be empathetic?

An effective and efficient counselor practices and executes the skills of empathy while interacting with their client. The counselor can listen and deal with the patients without judging them. He talks to them about their concerns and feelings. The counselor tries to understand their perspective and does not change it.

Empathy allows the counselor to create an alliance concerning the clients’ goals and ambitions. Empathetic counselors understand the personality traits and preferences of their clients. Empathetic counseling services will help to foster positive emotions. While a counselor is dealing with a patient, he must look upon these three factors before making a treatment plan for them.

Intensity:

The first one is the intensity of their emotions. If they are piled up in their feelings, the counselors should look at the most intense emotions and look for ways to help them a copy. Counselors can list all the coping mechanisms and discuss them with their clients.

Context:

Empathetic Counselors should take all the aspects into account.  They should not only care for what the client is saying but also the non-verbal behaviors of the patients.  A lot of people have several different problems in them. They may behave weirdly or not according to the situation. The counselor should try to understand them without making any judgments.

Selective Responding:

Some patients may not be able to talk with the counselor. They don’t feel comfortable opening up. So, the counselors must deal with them with patience in such cases. They should not rush towards any conclusion. The counselors should look for the non-verbal expressions of the patients. They should give them proper time and attention which they require.

Five levels to measure empathy:

Although, several scales have been used to measure empathy. There is a test which is called the empathy quotient test. It measures how well one understands the emotions and feelings of others. Typically, the results have shown that women have more empathy than men. This test is based on observable behaviors.

Level 1:

This is the level at which the counselor usually ignores the message their patient is trying to convey. Level 1 counselors show nonempathic behavior.

Level 2:

The level two counselors try to understand the client’s perspective but not in an effective way. These counselors are not considered as empathic as well.

Level 3:

These therapists respond to the visible actions of the clients but ignore the emotions that are lying underneath the cold surface. They cannot hear the implicit message and feelings of the patient in the treatment. So, counselors of this level do not express deep empathy.

Level 4:

Level four counselors respond appropriately. Generally, these counselors only react to what the patient has said.

Level 5:

Level five counselors give proper time and attention to what the patients are trying to convey. They provide them with time to expand and open up.  These counselors do not make assumptions based on mere judgments. They talk and notice the responses of the patients carefully.

Seven Innovative Empathic Responses:

Counselors usually use empathic responses to make their clients feel at ease. Some of these empathic responses include:

Non-verbal behaviors:

Most counselors acknowledge and notice clients’ non-verbal behaviors. They look at their expressions and body gestures. Therapists do not give their suggestions in between the conversation. They give them time and look at all the movements they are making while trying to express themselves.  This will ease the job of the counselors.

Reflecting Deeper Feelings:

Counselors who reflect deeper feelings look at things beneath the solid interior of the clients. They look at things more deeply than just merely perceiving the outward sayings.  These responses are not interpretive but are feelings that a counselor experience. Clients are usually unaware of these feelings. Generally, these feelings reside below the solid exterior.

Pointing out feelings:

A counselor can point out the feelings and thoughts of the clients so that they can talk about it more openly. They can start to feel comfortable with you when you explore them keenly. Sometimes the clients can have thoughts and feelings that conflict with each other. The counselors can help them to highlight these conflicts.

After highlighting, they can have an in-depth discussion about these thoughts disturbing them. These dilemmas must be cleared up to make sense out of things.

Using Visual Imagery:

Using visual imagery can help your clients better and more understandable way. Moreover, you can use images that the client can easily be related. Powerful imagery can show the client how they can overcome their fears and cope with the situation. Ideas can also help the client to understand the intensity of the problem.

Using Analogies:

Analogies are comparisons that a counselor can make between two people or between how a person was and how he is now. Counselors can make logical analyses and help the client develop a unique perspective from an alternative position. This perspective can be more palatable for the clients sometimes.

Using Metaphors:

Metaphors allow the patients to perceive the information in a unique form. Counselors can use the figure of speech that is symbolic or representative of the patient’s current situation.

Using targeted Self Disclosure:

Sometimes, counselors can help the patients by disclosing their issues. In this way, the clients can feel more connected with the counselors. This will also help the clients talk to them and feel more understood. The counselors usually reveal their feelings and how they overcame those feelings. This will make the patient try similar ways to overcome these feelings.

Although, it is often a tough call for most counselors. But they can give it a shot for the betterment of their clients.

Bottom Line:

Empathetic Counselling services are now practiced all over the world.  The counselor should practice empathy by following some simple steps. The first step is to give time and attention to the client and try to understand their perspective.

 They should not make any judgment very quickly. Counselors should always respond to the client in a way that would make the clients feel comfortable. A homely environment is much appreciated.

Author Bio:

Jane Austin is a famous Empath in the US.  She has extensive experience in dealing with different people from various backgrounds. Ms. Austin is an active listener and knows exactly how to make her client feel comfortable with her. She runs an online website where she provides empathetic counseling services and her team.

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