Childhood-abuse Quote by Christine A. Courtois
““Therapy must begin with empathy - not a patronizing sympathy, but instead one that is unflinching (Marotta, 2003). Empathy of this sort is highly attuned to the client, no matter the circumstance. The therapist strives to "travel in the client's shoes" or to "view the world from the client's perspective" in order to really understand his or her emotions, cognitions, and beliefs - in short, to understand from the perspective of the other (Wilson & Thomas, 2004). Treatment involves understanding that a client's defeatist and apparently helpless, disempowered, or "masochistic" perspectives can be a logical outgrowth of formative traumatic experiences and, further, may be highly creative means of self-protection. The therapist must not attempt to undo or "make up for" past abandonment or betrayals by their client's caregivers or in their close relationships, but instead first understand the client's perspective and approach to the world, while working to provide alternative perspectives on both past and present that promote change.””
About This Quote
Source Journal article: Empathy in psychotherapy, Marotta 2003; Wilson & Thomas 2004
Therapy should start with deep, non‑judgmental empathy, seeing the client’s world to understand their emotions and beliefs before offering new perspectives.
In simple terms: Begin therapy with true empathy, not pity.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate genuine empathy before trying to change a client.
Themes
empathy
therapy
client‑centered care
Mood
compassionate
reflective
Type
clinical
educational
When to use this quote
- initial assessment
- building trust
- reframing narratives
- supporting trauma survivors
Key Concepts
Trauma-informed practice
perspective‑taking
self‑protection
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance empathy with therapeutic direction?
- What boundaries protect both therapist and client?
A Different Perspective
Empathy alone may not resolve entrenched trauma without concrete interventions.
