Discussion

Can you respond to this question….

One of the most important tasks during an intake interview is developing a rapport with the client, which basically involves making a connection where the client feels that the helper is actively listening to them and cares about finding them appropriate treatment. Learning how to truly listen to clients is about more than just being able to repeat what has been said. Egan and Reese (2019) describe empathic listening as “listening [that] centers on the kind of attending, observing, and listening—the kind of “being with”—needed to develop an understanding of clients and their worlds. Although it might be metaphysically impossible to actually get “inside” the world of another person and experience the world as he or she does, it is possible to approximate this” (p. 179). Ideally, empathic listening leads to empathic understanding, which leads to empathic responding.

When listening to clients’ stories, they tend to incorporate the following elements, all of which are important to understand in order to keep the helping relationship focused and moving forward: experiences, thoughts, behavior, and emotions/affect. How do these concepts differ from one another?