Empathy

Empathy, as used in Nonviolent Communication, is a quality of being present with oneself or another person. Emapthy can be silent or it can be expressed.

Sometimes, and especially by beginners, it is expressed by: When ______(observation) are you feeling ______ and are you needing ______? Sometimes this is referred to as an empathy guess and is meant to help connect with the person (or self) I'm listening to. An empathy guess is just my best understanding of where the person is (what they're feeling and needing). It is put in the form of a question so the person can reflect on the feelings and needs and respond with affirmation or corrections.

People often say that they feel very connected and heard when their listener uses this form of empathy.

Judy in Vermont