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tijdschriftpersoonsgerichte
experiëntiële
psychotherapie
Process-oriented
Existential
Interactional
Integrative

The plural of empathy

Polyphony of the first core condition in experiential group psychotherapy

ARTICLEHanne Roelandt - 60–1 (2022)

SUMMARY

Empathy is one of the most broadly documented and studied core conditions within the field of client-centered psychotherapy. The concept has been refined throughout the years as being a complex process of attunement between two frames of reference (one belonging to the therapist and the other belonging to the client). As such, it was defined as dialogical in its nature. This article aims at contributing to the translation of the empathic attitude within the context of group therapy. The multiplicity of layers of meaning within the group requires rethinking of the dialogical concept of empathy with respect to the specificity of attunement in the group. The concept of empathy is therefore being reconsidered and specified in the different working spaces in the group.

KEYWORDS

experiential group therapy, empathy

The tPeP (Journal Person-centered experiential Psychotherapy) is the scientific journal for Dutch and Flemish psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists, that work from, or are interested in a client-centered perspective.