Listening, Empathic

Empathic listening is a way of being with a person so that the person believes and feels understood and respected without judgment. Empathic listening is often interchangeably used with active and reflective listening. Listening with empathy is more than hearing. It requires the ability to vicariously experience the world of the other through words, body language, and silence, and grasp the underlying meaning and feelings as well as the salience of what is being communicated. Empathic listening is a multidimensional construct that includes the cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes. It is part of a learned skill set expected from mental health professionals. Learning the skills is not difficult, but mastering the skills may take time. Therefore, each therapist’s ability to provide empathic listening varies. This ...