ABSTRACT
Empathy has been firmly placed on the transactional analysis map since Barbara Clark's paper on empathy and its role in deconfusion. Empathy is composed of two aspects: empathic understanding (listening and resonating) and empathic responding. In many respects, empathic understanding is useless unless it can be effectively communicated to the client. To be truly empathic requires that the therapist be prepared to tolerate and contain intense and possibly confusing unpleasant emotions. In terms of treatment planning, emphasizing empathy forms a crucial aspect of the formation and maintenance of the therapeutic relationship, and certainly helps cement the ‘therapeutic bond’ aspect of the relationship. Clients generally present in therapy initially with an intense need to be understood, to unburden, to feel safe, knowing that their experience makes sense to someone. In fact, the patient may not be receptive to interpretations that highlight recurring themes, patterns and repetitions in her life until she becomes more comfortable in the therapy.
