ABSTRACT
Empathy is such an important quality for maintaining attachment with the highly traumatized client that it merits an in-depth look. Depending on the therapist’s attachment styles and genetic heritage, they may be wired for different kinds of empathic awareness. Naturally empathic or ‘warm’ therapists approach therapy work differently than intellectual or ‘cool’ therapists and need different kinds of support. Empathic styles break out into roughly three categories: cognitive, somatic, and intuitive. Therapists with all three styles evidence a kind of ‘superhuman empathy’. These therapists can be prone to burnout due to sensory overload. Protective measures and internal boundaries are discussed.
