
CAHSS Faculty Articles
Title
From Pity to Compassion: When the Therapist’s Emotions get in the Way
Department
Department of Family Therapy
Publication Date
3-2001
Publication Title
Psychotherapy Networker
ISSN
1535-573X
Volume
25
Issue/No.
2
First Page
19
Last Page
20
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.
NSUWorks Citation
Flemons, D. G. (2001). From Pity to Compassion: When the Therapist’s Emotions get in the Way. Psychotherapy Networker, 25 (2), 19-20. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_facarticles/628