ABSTRACT
Compassion, at its most fundamental level, is an expression of both our ability and desire to care; it is a crucial component of healthcare and the therapeutic relationship. Compassion catalyzes us to understand and, thus, know the other. Both clients and families consistently rank compassionate care, along with competent care, to be of highest importance. This chapter focuses on research that demonstrates how compassion enables healthcare providers to be sensitive to and connect with the client. Literature supports that forming a connection enables collaboration between the client and healthcare provider. This chapter also discusses the research regarding facilitators and barriers to the development of compassion among healthcare providers and demonstrates that compassion is both measurable and learnable.
