Do you really know what your client thinks:? Therapy by Listening

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Re: Empathetic Listening

From: Lynne
Date: 09 Oct 2007
Time: 21:38:23 -0500
Remote Name: 70.237.227.11

Comments

Brittney, I do not stutter, as you guessed. However, I don't think that you must have experienced stuttering, or any other problem that you might encounter in a relationship, in order to be empathetic. It can be helpful, certainly, but I do not believe that it is required. Having empathy means to identify with the feelings or thoughts of another person. By seeking to understand their point of view, I believe that the client will understand you to be genuinely interested in them and willing to learn how stuttering affects their life. How can you try to understand their point of view? By asking a question and really listening to their answer, as opposed to trying to figure out what you're going to ask next, or what you'll be doing when the session is over, or any of those other thoughts that often intrude on 'listening space'. Focusing on the speaker allows you to pay attention to the feelings behind what that person is saying. Another point related to this is that being a person who stutters does not guarantee understanding. Every person's experiences are their own. Think of your own experiences in life. Certainly, it might be easier for a fellow student to understand your stress level during final exam week. But, each student experiences stress in a unique way due to their own personality, and no one of you could presume to exactly understand how the others truly feel. I hope this is helpful and I wish you the best in your studies. Regards, Lynne


Last changed: 10/22/07