Sections
Express Empathy | Develop Discrepancy | Roll With Resistance | Support Self-Efficacy
Excerpt
Empathy is the ability to view the world through the eyes
of another by seeing, feeling, and understanding things as if living
the same life experience. Expression of empathy works to reduce
defensiveness by reassuring patients that they are understood and
not "crazy" for having their particular set of
thoughts and feelings. Effective communications of empathy enable
patients to risk more honesty and open exploration of their problems
(Miller and Rollnick 1991).