(Erera 1997)

Title: Empathy training for helping professionals: Model and evaluation.

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Publication: Journal of Social Work Education, 33(2), 245-260.

Authors: Pauline I. Erera

Date: (Spring/Summer 1997),

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Citation:

Erera, P. (1997). Empathy training for helping professionals: Model and evaluation. Journal of Social Work Education, 33(2), 245-260.

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Abstract:

This article presents a cognitive oriented training program for enhancing empathy and in-depth understanding of clients among helping professionals. The Empathy Training Program (ETP) was compared with an emotionally oriented training program in an experimental study involving 51 social work students working with clients in their practicum sites.

Findings show that although no statistically significant differences in empathy scores at post-test were indicated between the research and comparison groups, there was a statistically significant improvement in the research group's mean empathy scores. The qualitative data further suggest that the ETP enhances students' in-depth assessment and understanding of clients, expands their response repertory, and enhances their independence.

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Topic Area: (In which field / sector / perspective was this study conducted?)

Definition: (How was empathy defined?)

Benefits: (Were any benefits of empathy mentioned?)

Criticisms (Were any criticisms, negative effects or risks of empathy mentioned?)

Methods: (What were the methods used to train empathy?)

Target Group: (Who participated in this study / training?)

Measurements: (About the assessment: How was the change in empathy measured before/after the intervention/method?)

Result: (What was the result?)

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