What Is “Empathic Therapy”?
Empathy recognizes, welcomes and treasures the individuality, personhood, identity, spirit or soul of the other human being in all its shared and unique aspects.
Empathic therapies offer a caring, understanding and empowering attitude toward the individual’s emotional struggles, aspirations and personal growth. They promote the individual’s inherent human rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They respect the autonomy, personal responsibility and freedom of the person. They encourage the individual to grow in self-appreciation as well as in the ability to respect, love and empathize with others.
A broad spectrum of therapeutic and educational approaches can draw upon and express empathy; but conventional psychiatric diagnosis, psychiatric medication, electroshock and involuntary treatment suppress the individuality and the empathic potential of both the provider and the recipient. Empathy lies at the heart of the best therapeutic and educational approaches.
Peter R. Breggin, MD
July 8, 2010
Peter R. Breggin, MD is no longer affiliated with the Center for the Study of Psychiatry, informally known as International Center for the Study of Psychiatry and Psychology, which he founded and led from 1972-2002, and Dr. Breggin is no longer involved in its conferences.
Copyright 2010-2012 Peter R. Breggin, MD
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Dr. Peter Breggin presents the first Lifetime Empathic Therapy Award to esteemed colleague
and beloved friend Bertram Karon, PhD
Warning! Most psychiatric drugs can cause withdrawal reactions, sometimes including life-threatening emotional and physical withdrawal problems. In short, it is not only dangerous to start taking psychiatric drugs, it can also be dangerous to stop them. Withdrawal from psychiatric drugs should be done carefully under experienced clinical supervision. Methods for safely withdrawing from psychiatric drugs are discussed in Dr. Breggin's new book, Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients, and Their Families.
Dr. Peter Breggin's
Center for the Study of Empathic Therapy®
