PSYC2140 - Week 11


The Role of Empathy in Healthcare and Leadership

Empathy Explained

  • Definition of Empathy: The capability to recognize, understand and share another individual's thoughts and feelings.
      - Contrast with Sympathy: Sympathy is understanding emotions from one's own perspective whereas empathy is about feeling emotions from another's perspective.
      - Common Phrases:
        - "I know how you feel" (sympathy)
        - "I feel how you feel" (empathy)
      - Assessment in Academics: Empathy is often measured in post-graduate applications like the CASPer test for healthcare professionals.

Importance of Empathy in Service Fields

  • Why Empathy Matters:
      - Empathic care leads to enhanced patient experiences and outcomes.
      - Signals to patients that providers are human and genuinely care.
      - Example from Dr. Jennifer Hummel: Provider empathy correlates positively with patient outcomes.

Guidelines for Fostering Empathetic Communication

  • From Canadian Medical Association and Canadian Psychological Association Code of Ethics:
      1. Perceive and Identify Emotions.
      2. Investigate and Understand the emotions.
      3. Help them Evolve their Emotions.
      4. Actively Listen without interruptions.
      5. Gauge Feelings: Identify emotions like fear or anger.
      6. Ask Open-Ended Questions.
      7. Utilize Non-Verbal Cues: For instance, maintain eye contact, nodding.
      8. Learn what has Worked for them previously.
      9. Offer Solutions tailored to their needs.

Cultural Sensitivity in Empathy

  • Importance of using inclusive language: Avoid biases, stereotypes, and jargons.

  • Establish group norms around active listening and encourage feedback.

Practicing Empathy as Students

Opportunities for Engagement

  • Join CCSC Volunteer Crew for roles in student success programs.

  • Leadership training opportunities available for the 2026-2027 school year, including FPLT, APLT, ELT.

  • Online modules available through BecomingYU to enhance leadership capabilities.

Student Success Programs at Calumet and Stong Colleges

Support Services Available:

  • Peer Mentoring: New Faculty of Health students paired with upper-year mentors to aid in transition into university life.

  • Peer Tutoring: 1-on-1 sessions with trained upper-year students. Targeting difficult courses and providing class announcements.

  • Peer-Assisted Study Sessions (PASS): Facilitate study groups led by trained leaders to provide support in challenging subjects.

Recent and Upcoming Events

  • Rehab and Allied Health Careers Panel Event: Scheduled for March 26th @ 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM.

  • Free Wellness Breakfast: April 1st from 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM at Calumet College Wellness Lounge.

  • Take Paws: Therapy Dogs: April 1st from 12 PM - 1 PM at Two Student Centre Studio.

  • General Graduate Admissions – Virtual Drop-In: April 2nd from 12 PM - 1 PM.