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Articles

Paradoxical Findings Regarding Therapist Empathy Based on Length of Professional Experience

Pages 112-125
Published online: 28 Dec 2017
 
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Empathy is considered a key condition for an effective outcome of the therapeutic process in many psychotherapeutic approaches. A number of transactional analysis authors have stressed the importance of empathy and empathic transactions. This quantitative study aimed to test the hypothesis that levels of therapist empathy increase with professional training and work experience. A comparative analysis of data obtained from more than 100 practitioners with experience ranging from 1 month to 15 years did not confirmed this hypothesis. In response, the authors have formulated a way to differentiate professional empathy as a trained skill and personal empathy as a personality trait. Directions for future exploration are outlined.

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Author information

Vladimir Goussakovski

Author Biographies
Vladimir Goussakovski is a PhD psychologist and a Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (psychotherapy) who lives and practices psychotherapy, TA training, and supervision in St. Petersburg, Russia. He is a founder member and past president of the St. Petersburg Institute of Transactional Analysis (SITA). He also originated the first ongoing TA training programs in several cities in Russia, Ukraine, and Armenia. Vladimir was a vice president of ITAA and currently is chair of the ITAA Conference Committee. He can be reached at Apt.75, H.2, Privokzalnaya Square, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, Russia; email: .

Margarita Sizikova

Margarita Sizikova is a psychologist and doctoral student at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. She lives in St. Petersburg, Russia, and can be reached at Apt.75, H.2, Privokzalnaya Square, Pushkin, St. Petersburg, Russia; email: .
 

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