Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Empathy from the Psychotherapy Client's Perspective; A Qualitative Examination

MacFarlane, Peter D.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1384416815

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Clinical Psychology (Arts and Sciences).
Empathy has been one of the best and most consistent predictors of outcome in quantitative research. Yet a basic understanding of the definition and uses of this common therapeutic factor has been hindered by theoretical difficulties. This study aimed to reexamine existing theoretical considerations of empathy through a qualitative analysis of clients' phenomenological experience of empathy, the clients' understanding of the therapists' empathic communications, and the clients' understanding of the utility of empathy. Participants consisted of nine clients seeking individual psychotherapy at a training clinic for doctoral students in clinical psychology. Semi-structured video-assisted interpersonal process recall (IPR) interviews lasting approximately 120 minutes each, were used for data-collection. The video-replay of the respondents' latest therapy session during interviews facilitated access to the clients' thoughts and feelings experienced during the session without undue interference. Subsequent transcription of the interviews was further enhanced through a multi-channel video-recording of the interviews. Grounded theory was used for the analysis of the transcripts, and analysis was furthered by access to the video-recordings of the interviews by four co-researchers. The use of a problem formulation to guide the interviewer during interviews and initial exploration of respondents' definitions of empathy at the beginning of each interview, allowed the respondent and interviewer to quickly focus in on the subject matter under investigation while leaving the client free to explore their actual experiences as prompted by the video-replay of the sessions. An iterative process of interviewing and data-analysis as indicated by grounded coding led to a saturation point after the sixth interview, ending data-collection after three additional interviews. Final categories were contributed to by most participants, and contributions from all nine participants were utilized in the final model. The analysis of the interviews yielded a model consisting of three clusters: (a) client-perceived types of empathy (the first two problem formulations gave rise to the first cluster); (b) client-perceived relational context of empathy (the second problem formulation); (c) client-perceived utility of therapist (the third problem formulation). The first cluster explored existing theoretical considerations related to typology including a discussion of cognitive versus affective types of empathy and a focus on client contributions to the process of empathy. The second cluster further elaborated on client impact on empathy engagement through client descriptions of their relationships with their therapists. The third and final cluster explored client experience and level of understanding of the usefulness of empathy in the therapeutic endeavor with an emphasis on the clients' contribution to the empathic engagement. The final hierarchical model consisted of a total of eight lowest-level categories. Results included exploration of linkages between types of empathy and utility of empathy. Results were discussed in the context of existing theory and research.
Timothy Anderson, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Ben Ogles, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
John Garske, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Susan Young, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Yegan Pillay, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
116 p.
Behavioral Sciences; Clinical Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Psychology; Psychotherapy
empathy; client perspective; qualitative methodology; grounded theory; interpersonal process recall; semistructured interview; utility of empathy; empathy theory; psychotherapy outcome

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • MacFarlane, P. D. (2014). Empathy from the Psychotherapy Client's Perspective; A Qualitative Examination [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1384416815

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • MacFarlane, Peter. Empathy from the Psychotherapy Client's Perspective; A Qualitative Examination. 2014. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1384416815.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • MacFarlane, Peter. "Empathy from the Psychotherapy Client's Perspective; A Qualitative Examination." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1384416815

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1384416815
5,273
© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.