Paradoxical Findings Regarding Therapist Empathy Based on Length of Professional Experience

Bibliographic Data

ID20177853
AuthorsVladimir Goussakovski (Moscow State University of Technologies and Management named after K.G. Razumovskiy, corresponding author), Margarita Sizikova
Year2017
Volume47
Issue2
Pages112-125
Publication date2017-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueTransactional Analysis Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0362-1537 • E-ISSN: 2329-5244
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1177/0362153717691976
OpenAlexW2584454016
LanguageEN
References cited21

Empathy is considered a key condition for an effective outcome of the therapeutic process in many psychotherapeutic approaches. A number of transactional analysis authors have stressed the importance of empathy and empathic transactions. This quantitative study aimed to test the hypothesis that levels of therapist empathy increase with professional training and work experience. A comparative analysis of data obtained from more than 100 practitioners with experience ranging from 1 month to 15 years did not confirmed this hypothesis. In response, the authors have formulated a way to differentiate professional empathy as a trained skill and personal empathy as a personality trait. Directions for future exploration are outlined

Empathy · Personality · Psychotherapist · Trait · Transactional analysis · Computer Science · Personality Disorders and Psychopathology · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications · Social Psychology · Transactional Analysis in Psychotherapy

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