Empathy

Empathy is a very powerful communication skill. It is a teachable construct that has many positive benefits in relationships. Effective empathetic communication enhances intimacy. The basis of the word comes from the German “einfuhlung” translated to “in feeling”. This describes the appreciation of another’s emotional state. It has further been described as the process of understanding another person’s subjective experience vicariously.

It leads to a deeper understanding of another human being.
Simply stated, it is the ability to understand another person’s experience from that person’s point of view.

Recognizing the current feelings of another person
Stopping to imagine how the other is feeling
Stating our perception of the other persons feeling
Validating the others feelings
Being respectful
Offering Support


When empathy is authentically used in communication, emotional intimacy will begin to occur.