Description
Empathy is one of the therapist’s most important—and sometimes most taken-for-granted—therapeutic tools. Yet, it’s often misunderstood, both conceptually and in terms of application and technique. This workshop will clarify what empathy is (and isn’t), how to achieve a deep empathic connection, and the two distinct modes of verbally empathizing: the conventional “You” mode and the more specialized “Identification” mode. Participants will have the opportunity to practice the specialized identification mode of empathy.
Instructor
Dr. Rob Scuka is a Maryland licensed clinical social worker and has been meeting the diverse and complex needs of couples, families, and individuals for the past 15 years.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Rob is Executive Director of the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement® (NIRE) in Bethesda, MD, where he is also a member of NIRE’s training faculty and certified as a trainer and supervisor in relationship enhancement (RE) Therapy, the RE Program, and child-centered play therapy.
Dr. Rob is the author of numerous articles and the book, Relationship Enhancement Therapy: Healing Through Deep Empathy and Intimate Dialogue, published by Routledge in 2005. He holds a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) from the University of Maryland School of Social Work (1994) and has served as an adjunct faculty. Dr. Rob has a Ph.D. in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Southern Methodist University.
Agenda & Learning Objectives
AGENDA:
9:50a – Log on
10:00a – History of Empathy: Carl Rogers and Bernard Guerney
10:20a – The Two Components of Deep Empathy, The Experiential Component, The Verbal Component
11:10a – The Two Modes of Verbal Empathy
11:30a – 11:45 - Break
11:45a – Teaching Empathy as a Skill
12:15p – Demonstrating Empathy to Couples
12:45p – Practice Exercise of Empathy
1:10p – Teaching Partner Appreciations
1:15p – Adjournment
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Upon the completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:
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Conceptualize empathy with clarity.
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Explain the differences between the two different modes of verbal empathy.
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Describe how to effectively teach empathy skills to clients.
Bibliography & References
BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
Barrett-Lennard, G. T. (1993). The phases and focus of empathy. British Journal of Medical Psychology 66: 3-14.
Bohart, A. C., & Greenberg, L. S. (Eds.) (1997). Empathy reconsidered: New directions in psychotherapy. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Cavedo, L. C., & Guerney, B. G., Jr. (1999). Relationship Enhancement7 (RE) enrichment/problem-prevention programs: Therapy-derived, powerful, versatile. In R. Berger & M. T. Hannah (Eds.), Preventive approaches in couples therapy (pp. 73-105). New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Rogers, C. (1962). The interpersonal relationship: The core of guidance. Harvard Educational Review 32.4: 416-429.
Rogers, C. R. (1980). Empathic: An underappreciated way of being, in Rogers, C. R., A way of being. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Scuka, R. (2005). Deep empathy as the foundation of RE therapy, in Scuka, R. Relationship enhancement therapy: Healing through deep empathy and intimate dialogue (ch. 3, pp. 47-62). New York: Routledge.
Scuka, R. (2005). Embracing the other: Teaching empathic skill, in Scuka, R. Relationship enhancement therapy: Healing through deep empathy and intimate dialogue (ch. 6, pp. 121-138). New York: Routledge.
Scuka, R. (2008). The limits of empathy in Relationship Enhancement therapy,@ in RE/Filial News, March, 2008, published by the Association for Filial and Relationship Enhancement Methods. Available at www.robscuka.com.
Snyder, M. (1992b). The meaning of empathy: Comments on Hans Strupp=s case of Helen R. Psychotherapy 29.2: 318-22.
Snyder, M. (1995). >Becoming=: A method for expanding systemic thinking and deepening empathic accuracy. Family Process 34: 241-53.
Snyder, M., & Guerney, B. G., Jr. (1999). The power of shared subjectivity: Revitalizing intimacy through Relationship Enhancement7 couples therapy (pp. 359-380). In J. Carlson & L. Sperry (Eds.), The intimate couple. New York: Brunner/Mazel.
Watson, J. C. (2002). Re-Visioning empathy. In D.J. Cain and J. Seeman (Eds.), Humanistic psychotherapies: Handbook of research and practice (pp. 445-471). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.
Target Audience
Social Workers, LCPCs, and Psychologists
We welcome anyone interested in the topic!
Late Fees and Refunds
The base price is $70, which includes CE credit.
Late Fee: On October 5, 2024, a non-refundable late fee of $20 is added to the base price. Late fees cannot be refunded or applied to account credit.
Cancellations: **ALL cancellations will be subjected to a $35.00 administration fee.** Cancellations must be received 24 hours in advance prior to the workshop to receive a refund or an account credit.
