Some Aspects of Empathy in the Process of Psychotherapy: Learning from Indian Tradition
Psychological Studies December 1, 2012 Raghubir Singh Pirta 4 citations
Empathy is essential for psychotherapists, but evidence that Eastern meditational practices enhance it in trainees is not convincing. This article examines Indian traditions for alternative interventions. It first reviews the evolution of pro-social behavior and the nature of therapist-client bonds, then summarizes studies on meditation and empathy. Finding limited support for meditation, the author proposes exploring intuition (pratibha) and holistic learning (vyutpatti) as pragmatic ways to sensitize aspiring psychotherapists—intuition for inner journeys and holistic learning for community-level interventions.