ABSTRACT
Psychoanalysts are considered "particularly empathic" when they understand a wide variety of patients a high percentage of the time. It accordingly requires that one understand enough about the individual's situation to comprehend how such feelings fit into that person's life and make sense, given that individual's personality and past. Self psychology is founded on the idea that healthy narcissistic development depends upon the availability of objects who prize and admire the child and who can be idealized by the child. Self psychology places a special importance on the role of empathy in the development of healthy narcissism. While empathy may help an analyst ascertain what it is that the patient needs, empathy should not be confused with the satisfaction of those needs. Psychoanalysts are considered "particularly empathic" when they understand a wide variety of patients a high percentage of the time.
