Skip to Main Content

Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy
2016. Vol. 24, no. 5, 178–204
doi:10.17759/cpp.2016240510
ISSN: 2075-3470 / 2311-9446 (online)

Empathy as a Method: from the Stainpoint of Modern Humanistic Psychotherapy

1854

T.D. Karyagina

PDF (RUS)
Online translation in english
GS
Information
in Google Scholar

Abstract

The article deals with an understanding of empathy in the context of the the prob- lems of subject matter and the method of psychotherapy. The focus is on the current state and development approaches in the branch traditionally called as humanistic or existential-humanistic psychotherapy. Status of empathy as a method of therapy is associated with the concept of the subject matter of work in a particular approach or school. Most often, the empathy is recognized as the method when the recogni- tion of experience as the subject matter of psychotherapeutic work takes place. Most obviously, this is done in modern experiantial approaches. We consider the specif- ics of experiantial methods in focusing-oriented therapy (E. Gendlin), emotiona — focused therapy (L. Greenberg, R. Elliott et al.), coexperiencing psychotherapy (F.E. Vasilyuk).

General Information

Keywords: psychotherapy, humanistic psychotherapy, experience, empathy, experiantial approach, person-centered approach, focusing-oriented psychotherapy, emotion-focused psychotherapy, coexperiencing psychotherapy

Journal rubric: Theory and Methodology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2016240510

Funding. The research has been supported by a grant from the Russian Foundation for Humani- ties (grant № 15-06-10889 “Synergic-Phenomenological Approach in the Сonsulting Psychology”).

For citation: Karyagina T.D. Empathy as a Method: from the Stainpoint of Modern Humanistic Psychotherapy. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya = Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2016. Vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 178–204. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2016240510. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

References

  1. Asmolov A.G. Psikhologiya lichnosti: uchebnik [Personality Psychology]. Moscow: Publ. MGU, 1990. 367 p.
  2. Bondarenko O.R. Jetiologija psihicheskih narushenij v klient-centrirovannoj psihotera- pii [Etiology of disorders in the client-centered therapy], Zhurnal prakticheskogo psihologa [The journal for applied psychologist], 2012, no. 1, pp. 102—120. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.).
  3. Boujen M.V.-B. Duhovnost’ i lichnostno-centrirovannyj podhod [Spirituality and per- son-centered approach], Voprosy psihologii [The questions of psychology], 1992, no. 3—4, pp. 24—33. (In Russ.).
  4. Vasilyuk F.E. Semiotika i tehnika empatii [Semiotics and technique of empathy]. Voprosyi psihologii [The questions of psychology], 2007, no. 2, pp. 3—14. (In Russ.).
  5. Vasiljuk F.E. Ponimajushhaja psihoterapija kak psihotehnicheskaja sistema: diss. … dokt. psihol. nauk [Coexperiencing psychotherapy as psychotechnical system. Dr. Sci. (Psychology) diss.]. Moscow, 2007, 407 p.
  6. Vlasova O.A. Fenomenologicheskaja psihiatrija i jekzistencial’nyj analiz: diss…dokt. fi- losof. nauk. [Phenomenological psychiatry and existential analysis. Dr. Sci. (Phi- losophy) diss.]. Kursk, 2010, 368 p.
  7. Vorob’eva L.I. Psihoterapija v istorii psihologii: kul’turno-istoricheskij analiz: diss. … kand. psihol. nauk. [Psychotherapy in the history of psychology. Ph. D. (Psychol- ogy) Thesis]. Moscow, 2016, 224 p.
  8. Dzhendlin Ju. Fokusirovanie: Novyj psihoterapevticheskij metod raboty s perezhivani- jami. [Focusing — oriented psychotherapy: A manual of the experiential method] Moscow: Publ. Nezavisimaja firma “Klass”, 2000, 488 p.
  9. Karjagina T.D. Otkuda v psihoterapii jempatija: K. Rodzhers i ego psihoanaliticheskie predshestvenniki i posledovateli [Where the empathy came from to psychothera- py: carl rogers’ psychoanalytic predecessors and successors]. Konsul’tativnaja psi- hologija i psihoterapija [Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy], 2012. no. 1, pp. 8—31. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)
  10. Karjagina T.D. Jevoljucija ponjatija “jempatija” v psihologii: dis. … kand. psihol. nauk. [Evolution of the concept of empathy in psychology. Ph. D. (Psychology) Thesis]. Moscow, 2013, 175 p.
  11. Karjagina T.D. Jekspiriental’nye podhody v sovremennoj psihoterapii [Experiential ap- proaches in modern psychotherapy]. Konsul’tativnaja psihologija i psihoterapija [Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy], 2015, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 126—152. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.).
  12. Karjagina T.D. Jempatija kak metod: filosofskij vzgljad [Empathy as a method: the phil- osophical point of view], Konsul’tativnaja psihologija i psihoterapija [Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy], 2015, no. 5, pp. 205—234.
  13. Karjagina T.D., Matveeva K.M. Problema izmerenija i ocenki jempatii v psihoterapii [The problem of measurement and evaluation of empathy in psychotherapy]. Psiho- logicheskaja nauka i obrazovanie [Psychological Science and Education PSYEDU. ru], 2012, no. 5, pp. 67—77. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.).
  14. Kohut H. Introspekcija, jempatija i psihoanaliz: issledovanie vzaimootnoshenij mezhdu sposobom nabljudenija i teoriej. Antologija sovremennogo psihoanaliza: v 2 t. T. 1. Pod red. A.V. Rоssohina [Introspection, empathy and psychoanalysis: a study of the relationship between the mode of observation and theory. In A.V. Rоssohin (ed.) Anthology of contemporary psychoanalysis: in 2 vol. Vol. 1]. Moscow: Publ. In-t psihologii RAN, 2000. Pp. 282—299.
  15. Kohut H. Vosstanovlenie samosti. [The restoration of the Self]. Moscow: Publ. Kogito- centr, 2002. 316 p.
  16. KohutH. Analiz samosti. [The analysis of the Self]. Moscow: Publ. Kogito-centr, 2003. 369 p.
  17. Midor B., Rodzhers K. Lichnostno-centrirovannaja terapija. [Person-centered psycho- therapy]. Zhurnal prakticheskoi psikhologii i psikhoanaliza [The journal for practice psychology]. 2002. no. 4, pp. 28—46.
  18. Nekrylova N.V. Osnovnye napravlenija sovremennoj klient-centrirovannoj psihoterapii [The main directions of the modern client-centered psychotherapy]. Zhurnal prak- ticheskogo psihologa [The journal for applied psychologist], 2012, no. 1 pp. 81—101.
  19. Orlov A.B. Rodzherianstvo: problema imeni [Rogerian approach: the problem of nam- ing]. Zhurnal prakticheskogo psihologa [The journal for applied psychologist], 2012, no. 1, pp. 29—32.
  20. Orlov A.B., Lengle A., Shumskii V.B. Jekzistencial’nyj analiz i klientocentrirovannaja psihoterapija: shodstvo i razlichija [Existential analysis and client-centered psycho- therapy]. Voprosy psihologii [The questions of psychology], 2007, no. 6, pp. 21—31. (In Russ.).
  21. Prohazka Dzh., Norkross Dzh. Sistemy psihoterapii [Systems of psychotherapy]. Mos- cow: Publ. Prajm-Evroznak, Harvest, 2007. 384 p.
  22. Rodzhers K. Vzgljad na terapiju. Stanovlenie cheloveka [On becoming a person]. Mos- cow: Publ. Progress, 1994. 480 p.
  23. Rodzhers K. Klientocentrirovannyj/chelovekocentrirovannyj podhod v psihoterapii [Client-centered/ person-centered psychotherapy]. Voprosy psihologii [The ques- tions of psychology], 2001, no. 2, pp. 48—58.
  24. Rodzhers K. Jempatija. Psihologija motivacii i jemocij / Pod red. Ju.B. Gippenrejter i M.V. Falikman [Empathy. In Yu.B. Gippenreiter, M.V. Falikman (ed.) Textbook of psychology of motivation and emotions] Moscow: Publ. AST, Astrel, 2009, pp. 413—415.
  25. Rodzhers K. Neobhodimye i dostatochnye uslovija terapevticheskih lichnostnyh izmen- enij [Necessary and sufficient conditions of personality change in psychotherapy]. Zhurnal prakticheskogo psihologa [The journal for applied psychologist], 2012, no. 1, pp. 8—25.
  26. Rubinshtej S.L. Predmet psihologii. Rubinshtejn S.L. Osnovy obshhej psihologii. Gla- va 1. [The subject of psychology. In The basics of general psychology]. Moscow: Publ. Uchpedgiz, 1946, pp. 5—27.
  27. Sirota N.A., Moskovchenko D.V., Jaltonskij V.M., Kochetkov Ja.A., Jaltonskaja A.V. Psi- hodiagnostika jemocional’nyh shem: rezul’taty aprobacii russkojazychnoj kratkoj versii shkaly jemocional’nyh shem R. Lihi [Psychodiagnostics of emotional schemas: the results of transcultural adaptation and assessment of psychometric properties of Russian Version of Leahy Emotional Schema Scale II (LESS II_RUS)] Obozrenie psihiatrii i meditsinskoy psihologii imeni V.M. Bekhtereva [V.M. Bekhterev review of psychiatry and medical psychology], 2016. no. 1, pp. 66—71.
  28. Sosland A.I. Fundamental’naja struktura psihoterapevticheskogo metoda, ili Kak soz- dat’ svoju shkolu v psihoterapii [Fundamental structure of psychotherapeutic meth- od]. Moscow: Logos, 1999. [Jelektronnyj resurs]. URL: http://psylib.org.ua/books/ sosla01/index.htm (Accessed: 10.11.2016).
  29. StolorouR., Brandshaft B., Atvud D. Klinicheskij psihoanaliz: intersubektivnyj podhod [Psycho- analytic treatment: an intersubjective approach]. Moscow: Publ. Kogito-centr, 2011. 256 p.
  30. Ulanovskij A.M. Fenomenologicheskaja psihologija: kachestvennye issledovanija i rabota s perezhivaniem [Phenomenological psychology: qualitative research and experien- tial work] . Moscow: Smysl, 2016. 225 p.
  31. Holmogorova A.B., Garanjan N.G. Kognitivno-bihevioral’naja psihoterapija. Osnovnye napravlenija sovremennoj psihoterapii. Pod.red. A.M. Bokovicova [Cognitive-be- havioral psychotherapy. In A. M. Bokovikov (ed.) Main directions of modern psy- chotherapy]. Moscow: Publ. Kogito-Centr, 2000, pp. 224—267.
  32. Capkin V.N. Edinstvo i mnogoobrazie psihoterapevticheskogo opyta [Unity and diver- sity of psychotherapeutic experience]. Konsul’tativnaja psihologija i psihoterapija [Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy], 1992, no. 2.
  33. Capkin V.N. K novoj kartografii psihoterapevticheskogo polja [To the new mapping of the field of psychotherapy]. Konsul’tativnaja psihologija i psihoterapija [Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy], 2008. no. 1, p. 36—59
  34. Shumskij V.B. Ontologicheskoe i personalisticheskoe napravlenija v jekzistencial’noj psihologii: sravnitel’nyj analiz: avtoref. dis. … kand. psihol. nauk [Ontological and personalistic directions in existential psychology: A Comparative Analysis. Ph.D. (Psychology) Thesis]. Moscow, 2008. 23 p.
  35. Jalom I. Jekzistencial’naja psihoterapija [Existential psychotherapy]. Moscow: Publ. Klass, 1999. [Jelektronnyj resurs]. URL: http://www.psylib.org.ua/books/yalom01/ index.htm (Accessed: 10.11.2016).
  36. Jaspers K. Obshhaja patopsihologija [General psychopatology]. Moscow: Publ. Prak- tika, 1997. 1056 p.
  37. Bugental J.F.T., McBeath B. Depth existential therapy: Evolution since World War II. In: Comprehensive textbook of psychotherapy: Theory and practice. Ed. by B.M. Bon- gar and L.E. Beutler. Oxford textbooks in clinical psychology. Vol. 1. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. P. 111—122.
  38. Elliott R., Watson J.C., Goldman R.N., Greenberg L.S. Learning emotion-focused ther- apy: the process-experiential approach to change. AmericanPsychological Associa- tion, 2004. 366 p.
  39. Gendlin E.T. Experiential psychotherapy. In: Current psychotherapies. Ed. by R. Cor- sini. Itasca, IL: Peacock, 1973. P. 317—352 [Elektronnyi resurs]. URL: http://www. focusing.org/gendlin/docs/gol_2029.html (дата обращения: 10.11.2016).
  40. Gendlin E.T. Carl Rogers (1902—1987). American Psychologist. 1988. Vol. 43(2). P. 127—128 [Elektronnyi resurs]. URL: http://www.focusing.org/gendlin/docs/ gol_2059.html (дата обращения: 10.11.2016).
  41. Greenberg L.S., Safran D. Emotion in psychotherapy. American Psychologist. 1989. Vol. 44 (1). P. 19—29.
  42. Ferenci Sh. The Elastisity of Psycho-Analytic Technique. The Evolution of Psychoana- lytic Technique. Ed. by M. Bergmann, F. Hartman. New York: Columbia University Press, 1990. P. 216—229.
  43. Kirschenbaum H. What is “person-centered”? A posthumous conversation with Carl Rogers on the development of the person-centered approach. Person—Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies. 2012. Vol. 11 (1). P. 14—30.
  44. Lietaer G. A client-centered approach after Wisconsin project: a personal view on its evolution. In: Client-centered and Experiential Psychotherapy in the Nineties. Ed. By G. Lietaer, J. Rombauts, R. Balen. Leuven University Press, 1991. P. 19—46.
  45. Lietaer G. Carl Rogers’ verbal responses in “On anger and hurt”: content analysis and clinical reflections. In: Carl Rogers counsels a black client: Race and culture in per- son-centred counseling. Ed. By R. Moodley, C. Lago, A. Talahite. Ross-on-Wye, U.K.: PCCS Books, 2004. P. 52—70.
  46. Lietaer G., Brodly T. Carl Rogers in the Therapy Room: A listing of session transcripts and a survey of publications referring to Rogers’ sessions. Person-Centered and Ex- periential Psychotherapies. 2006. Vol. 2 (4). P. 274—291.
  47. Mahrer A.R., Fairweather D.R. What is “experiencing”? A critical review of meanings and applications in psychotherapy. The Humanistic Psychologist, 1993. Vol. 21 (1). P. 2—25.
  48. Rachman A. Sandor Ferenci’s contributions to the evolution of psychoanalysis. Psycho- analytic Psychology. 2007. Vol. 24 (1). P. 74—96.
  49. Schmid P.F. The characteristics of a person-centered approach to therapy and counsel- ing: criteria for identity and coherence. Person-Centered and Experiential Psycho- therapies. 2003. Vol. 2 (2). P. 104—120.
  50. Spinelli E. The interpreted world: an introduction to phenomenological psychology. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2005. 253 p.
  51. Stein E. On the problem of empathy. Washington, DC: ICS Publications, 1989. 135 p.
  52. Staemmler F.-M. Aggression, time and understanding: contribution to the evolution of geshtalt therapy. New York: Routledge, Taylor&Fransis Group, 2009. 384 p.
  53. Staemmler F.-M. Empathy in psychotherapy: How therapists and clients understand each other. New York: Springer Publishing Company. 2012. Kindle edition.
  54. Wispe L. History of the concept of empathy. In: Empathy and its development. Ed. by N. Eisenberg, J. Strayer. Cambridge, New York : Cambridge University Press, 1987. P. 20—35.

Information About the Authors

Tatyana D. Karyagina, PhD in Psychology, Associate Professor of the Department of Individual and Group Psychotherapy, Faculty of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, online-school "Psychodemia", Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1999-0839, e-mail: kartan18@gmail.com

Metrics

Views

Total: 3664
Previous month: 39
Current month: 35

Downloads

Total: 1854
Previous month: 12
Current month: 10