Why do cognitive-behavioral family therapists use empathy to build the therapeutic alliance?
A) Because empathy is a curative process in and of itself
B) To "integrate" experiential concepts to make better therapy
C) To create rapport, allowing therapists to get to the "real" interventions of therapy
D) To help clients to feel more comfortable with the therapy process

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral family therapists use empathy to create rapport with clients, which allows them to establish a better therapeutic alliance and get to the "real" interventions of therapy. It helps clients feel understood and fosters trust in the therapist, which is crucial for effective therapy. While empathy can be therapeutic in and of itself, it is not the primary reason why cognitive-behavioral family therapists use it to build the therapeutic alliance. Integrating experiential concepts may be a part of the therapy process but is not directly related to the use of empathy to build the therapeutic alliance. Similarly, while helping clients feel more comfortable with the therapy process is important, it is not the primary reason why cognitive-behavioral family therapists use empathy.

Why Do Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapists Use Empathy to Build the Therapeutic