Extending empathy to physical symptoms

In this article we advocate for extending our concept and practice of empathy to include both physical psychological symptoms, the personal presenting meanings encoded in them. We make case that when clients present medical symptoms therapy, these should be explored empathized with. First explore meaning function potential therapeutic benefits attending discuss mirroring therapist’s body, via a process embodied refer as empathy, understood an automatic intuitive one three types evidenced by neuroscience research. argue wider paradigm therapy would encompass expressions self. accept human nature is are better kind unverbalized body memory. propose PCE therapists practicing settings adopt phenomenological model working with engaging empathy. Within framework, person-centered experiential therapies may particularly useful preventing developing into complex, difficult treat syndromes. call training