Self-Compassion, Emotional Empathy, and Cognitive Empathy Among Novice Therapists

Abstract

Self-compassion is an important aspect of psychological health. Leading scholars assert that self-compassion cultivates self-awareness, which has long been considered critical for effective therapy. A large body of research indicates that effective therapy consists of the ongoing integration of the personal self and professional self. Therefore, the training of novice therapists tends to be a demanding process in which the novice therapists’ self is often used in work with clients and likely includes more than simply learning and implementation of techniques. Thus, this study’s purpose was to explore self-compassion in relation to emotional empathy and cognitive empathy among novice therapists. Using correlational analyses, this study employed well-established self-compassion and empathy scales to measure these variables. A state-level sample of novice therapists in Texas (N = 32), ages 22 to 33, completed an online survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire, the Self-Compassion Scale Short-Form (SCS-S), and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). There was a statistical significant difference between women and emotional empathy. No other significant relationships were found. This study concludes with theoretical explanations of the findings and the implications for training and further research.