Some Aspects of Empathy in the Process of Psychotherapy: Learning from Indian Tradition

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article focuses on some practices in Indian tradition as interventions for enhancing empathy among aspiring psychotherapists. In this venture, author after briefly looking into the evolution of pro-social behavior, it defines basic nature of bond formation between therapist and client, and then summarizes findings of studies on Eastern meditational practices in the context of empathy. Since there is not much convincing evidence that meditational practices enhanced empathy in psychotherapists, the suggestion is to explore other processes in the Indian tradition. Intuition ( pratibha ) and holistic learning ( vyutpatti ) are among those processes, respectively, for journeys into the inner world and interventions at community level. They are pragmatic ways to sensitize the aspiring psychotherapists.