Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Empathy has been one of the best and most consistent predictors of outcome in quantitative research.Yet a basic understanding of the definition and uses of this common therapeutic factor has been hindered by theoretical difficulties.This study aimed to reexamine existing theoretical considerations of empathy through a qualitative analysis of clients' phenomenological experience of empathy, the clients' understanding of the therapists' empathic communications, and the clients' understanding of the utility of empathy.Participants consisted of nine clients seeking individual psychotherapy at a training clinic for doctoral students in clinical psychology.Semi-structured video-assisted interpersonal process recall (IPR) interviews lasting approximately 120 minutes each, were used for data-collection.The video-replay of the respondents' latest therapy session during interviews facilitated access to the clients' thoughts and feelings experienced during the session without undue interference.Subsequent transcription of the interviews was further enhanced through a multi-channel video-recording of the interviews.Grounded theory was used for the analysis of the transcripts, and analysis was furthered by access to the video-recordings of the interviews by four co-researchers.The use of a problem formulation to guide the interviewer during interviews and initial exploration of respondents' definitions of empathy at the beginning of each interview,
Author: Peter MacFarlane
Institution: Ohio University
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2281741638