Empathic responding is when the counselor clearly communicates the feeling their client has expressed as well as why they possess those feelings (again, according to the client); this is superior to all other responses in therapy.

Empathy-Building Strategies

1. Talk to other people. Make it a point to begin conversations with people you meet and see across your day-to-day interactions.
2. Notice body language cues. This can including tone of voice and subtle shifts in energy.
3. Focus on listening.
4. Take action.

Use this inspirational empathy words list to express your feelings:

• Things are tough right now, but I’m here.
• I understand how hard this is for you.
• What you’re saying makes so much sense to me.
• I wish I had been there with you when that happened.
• That must have hurt your feelings.
• I hear what you’re saying.

By definition, empathy is the opposite of apathy. Empathy is defined as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another” — within + feeling or inside + suffering. Apathy is defined as “a lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern” — not + feeling or without + suffering.

Hurt and anger can also block empathy. When someone hurts us, our instinctive response may be to hurt back, which is more difficult if we are aware of another person as a human being just like us. When we feel aggressive, empathy shuts down so that we might inflict pain without feeling the pain we are inflicting.

We’re born with the capacity for empathy, but it’s learned behavior. Empathy. It’s the bedrock of intimacy and close connection; in its absence, relationships remain emotionally shallow, defined largely by mutual interests or shared activities.

around 2 years

Our page on empathy defines empathy as ‘feeling with’ someone – being able to put yourself in their place as if you were them, and feeling those feelings.

Here’s how to strengthen it. Empathy is crucial for conflict resolution and understanding and bonding with others. Here’s how to strengthen the skill and practice it in your everyday life.

It encourages leaders to understand the root cause behind poor performance. Being empathetic allows leaders to help struggling employees improve and excel. Empathy allows leaders to build and develop relationships with those they lead.

What is an empathetic leader? An empathetic leader is one who has genuine interest in his/her team members’ lives, the challenges they face, and their overall feelings. This kind of leader makes an effort to understand their situations and what they are going through, in order to offer support and help.