From Pity to Compassion: When the Therapist’s Emotions get in the Way

Douglas G. Flemons

From Pity to Compassion: When the Therapist’s Emotions get in the Way

Douglas G. Flemons

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Marlene's sensitivity to her clients' pain provided her with half of what was necessary to work effectively. "You need to be able to recognize enough of your clients' misery to hold on to how horrible their plight is," I said. "But if this is all you do, your despair will hold you back and you'll only feel sorry for them." Gregory Bateson wrote about the "bonus of understanding" made possible by double description.

Original language	American English
Journal	Psychotherapy Networker
Volume	25
State	Published - Mar 1 2001

Keywords

compassion in therapy
empathy
pity
sympathy
therapist's emotions

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities
Social and Behavioral Sciences

Access to Document

ViewcontentFinal published version, 18.7 KBLicense: Unspecified

Cite this

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AU - Flemons, Douglas G.

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N2 - Marlene's sensitivity to her clients' pain provided her with half of what was necessary to work effectively. "You need to be able to recognize enough of your clients' misery to hold on to how horrible their plight is," I said. "But if this is all you do, your despair will hold you back and you'll only feel sorry for them." Gregory Bateson wrote about the "bonus of understanding" made possible by double description.

AB - Marlene's sensitivity to her clients' pain provided her with half of what was necessary to work effectively. "You need to be able to recognize enough of your clients' misery to hold on to how horrible their plight is," I said. "But if this is all you do, your despair will hold you back and you'll only feel sorry for them." Gregory Bateson wrote about the "bonus of understanding" made possible by double description.

KW - compassion in therapy

KW - empathy

KW - pity

KW - sympathy

KW - therapist's emotions

UR - https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_facarticles/628

UR - https://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/Search?networkerCategory=Magazine

M3 - Article

SN - 1535-573X

VL - 25

JO - Psychotherapy Networker

JF - Psychotherapy Networker

ER -

From Pity to Compassion: When the Therapist’s Emotions get in the Way

Abstract

Keywords

Disciplines

Access to Document

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