IJSP Number 2, 2020

67 EMPATHY IN PSYCHOTHERAPY. SUPERVISED CASE STUDY FARCAȘ-PETIC Andreea Alexandra 1 1 The Association of Integrative Research, Counselling and Psychotherapy (AIRCP), Emails : andreea.nicsa@gmail.com Abstract In psychotherapy, empathy refers to reporting the same wavelength at the emotional level with the client you interact. As a human part of psychotherapy regardless of the therapeutic approach, empathy is manifested both in the relationship between the therapist and the client, as well as in the supervision relation between the supervisee and the supervisor. Following personal experience and supervision, I learned that empathy in psychotherapy does not give you the wrong information. Key words: supervision, psychotherapy, empathy, reflection, case study, parallel process 1. INTRODUCTION Empathy in psychotherapy is the ability to emotionally share the client’s experience as it is, including isomorphic feelings with the client’s experience, as an emotionally response to the client’s emotional state. The therapist listens to words, pays attention to the client’s behavior, engages and observes the interaction within the therapeutic framework, then addressing the client with empathy, which allows him/her to feel listened and understood [1]. From the perspective of some therapists, empathy is limited to warm and supportive attitude [2] when, in fact, empathy is much deeper, and „refers to realizing with the other a profound and sustained psychic contact, in which a person is very attentive to the experience of the other as a unique individual and is aware of this”. The empathic approach involves appreciating the client experience as it is, including investigations into it, reaching precise interpretations that help the client understand his experience and himself, and which create a new meaning [2], a reframing of things.