SHERRY MATHESON

team-8

How might we show families how satisfying empathy circles are for their communication?

Sept 2015

Empathy Circle

Information:

At home, lasted about an hour, there were 4 participants.

Intention Setting:

I asked my family if they would participate in an empathy circle to help me with my homework for this project. I shared with them the handout of Empathy Circles, I told them that I have a dual role as facilitator and participant.

I asked if they would like to have a topic for the empathy circle or to just discuss whatever came up for them. After some questions and them not really knowing they knew what to expect, they decided to go with whatever came up for them.

Observations

Excited about participating and trying the empathy circle. It was a little awkward at first and then there were some real things that were coming up. There were emotional moments and moments of silence and observed that sometimes the other person doesn’t even need to say any words to know that you have been heard.

Had to interject a couple of times with others who were suppose to be listening interjecting and responding or commenting on what someone had said.

It got easier and less awkward as we went on. I personally feel that I got to understand a family member a lot better and it has changed our interaction in our day to day.

Participant Feedback

A few of the participants said they would like to have more empathy circles and feel it was very useful to have them.