How to Be Empathetic?

Chapter Five asserts that there is value in teaching health professionals how to be empathetic, and empathy is learned by applying strategies that cultivate enhanced self-awareness and other-awareness. Specific ways to foster self-awareness include reflective journaling, mindfulness, mindfulness meditation, obtaining feedback from others, learning from lived experiences, and being conscious of one’s own non-verbal messaging. Other-awareness is facilitated through: mindful listening, reading other people’s non-verbal cues, making use of open-ended questions, and seeking clarification. Practicing kindness on purpose, utilizing Positive Psychology Exercises and practicing Positive Psychotherapy techniques (PPT) are also highly recommended. Several stories are featured. In the first narrative, a health professional uses paraphrasing as a way to demonstrate empathy. In the second story, a client experiences the benefits of using the What Went Well Exercise on a daily basis that focuses on gratitude. In the Case in Point, an encounter with a stranger helped a Social Worker to develop compassion. The Chapter ends with a role-play simulation.