Empathy in Motivational Interviewing Includes Language Style Synchrony Between Therapist and Client
LIWC Research Series:
Empathy is a basic psychological process that involves the development of synchrony in dyads. It is also a foundational ingredient in specific, evidence-based behavioural treatments like motivational interviewing. To explore a new objective indicator of empathy, the researchers evaluated whether synchrony in language style between client and therapists would predict gestalt ratings of empathy over and above the contribution of reflections.
Lord, Sarah & Sheng, Elisa & Imel, Zac & Baer, John & Atkins, David. (2014). More Than Reflections: Empathy in Motivational Interviewing Includes Language Style Synchrony Between Therapist and Client. Behavior Therapy. 46. 10.1016/j.beth.2014.11.002.
