"Empathy Based Practice" in Stuttering

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Empathy involves listening

From: Kevin Eldridge
Date: 19 Oct 2005
Time: 10:01:07 -0500
Remote Name: 67.186.84.111

Comments

Bob, As always, your papers seem to strike a harmonic chord with my way of thought. Let me point out that like you, I am not anti-EBP. In fact after the SID4 Leadership conference, I had the feeling that ASHA is on the right track with this (imagine me thinking ASHA is on the right track with anything!). Now to my comment. As you mentioned, Joe D.'s distinction between sympathy and empathy was right on. He said, "...empathy directs the clinician to insights into the PWS' life." I think it important to point out that if one is to truly uncover these insigths, they must engage in active and prolonged listening. An example from my own life illuminated this for me. I had watched both a friend and family member get diagnosed with a terminal cancer. We talked quite a bit and I thought I understood how I would react to such a situation. Then I was diagnosed with a potentially terminal disease. I had 2 young girls, aged 3 and 1 year old. I found out that I HAD NOT really understood the depth of the situation until I was there. No one truly understands how it feels to be in someone else's shoes. Even if we put on their shoes, we only know how there shoes feel on OUR feet. So, if we we are to truly understand, we must listen, listen, listen.


Last changed: 10/24/05