Empathy and it's importance in a clinical setting

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feeling of others in a genuine and often dynamic manner. It is the ability to “put oneself in the shoes of others.” It often indicates a genuine interest in the thoughts and feelings of others and their issues. These tends to create mutual beneficial relationships between multiple parties as each attempt to generate common ground.

As it relates to clinical empathy, it is important for physicians to have both candid and genuine relationships with their respective patients. This is critical element to the overall relationship due in part to the overall sensitivity and complexity of health-related issues. My issues, particularly those that can result in severely adverse consequences require empathy from both parties. The more complex the circumstance, the more empathy is required so that the best healthcare decisions can be made. Elements such as addictions, break-ups, family abuse, and other more sensitive topics, often require empathy.

For a client experiencing a difficult break-up, my first response to be to determine the overall context of the circumstances surrounding the relationship and subsequent breakup. In relationships, many variables often coalesce in one direction or another. These variables can be positive and reinforce the relationship or negative and undermine the relationship. Other variables include age, family dynamics, socio-economic status, race, and other intangible elements. For example, the importance places on relationships increased in teenage years and is often heightened in adulthood. A breakup in a person’s teenage years can have a vastly different impact than a breakup with someone in adulthood for example. Likewise, a partner’s often change particularly as it relates to romantic involvement, financial priorities, children and so forth.

Here my professional response would therefore be to assess many of these variables in the life of the individual. To do so, I would ask questions related to the individuals background and history. Does the individual have a “need” for companionship? Was this need created by absentee parent or lack of love as a child. Does the partner fulfil a need that others in the person’s life cannot? This are important questions to ask to provide insights into the correct course of action.