Please pick one of the three topics below and write 2-3 pages, double spaced, on the selected question

1. Describe a conversational experience in which you could not feel any empathy because of something about the person or because of the nature of the story. What did you find yourself wanting to say to them but you knew you shouldn't? Explain why you thought you shouldn't say anything. If you had a second chance, is there anything you might have said?

2. Sometimes it is hard for the clinician to be fully present with the client and attend to his or her story because of uncomfortable feelings that arise when discussing certain subjects. Do any topics make you uncomfortable or cause you to have difficulty being empathetic? What are they? Why are they difficult for you?

3. Think about a time when a friend raised a personal matter that he or she seemed uncomfortable discussing. How did you encourage the person to talk with you? Did you ask direct questions? Did you talk about yourself in a similar situation, hoping he or she would feel more comfortable? Did you change the topic? What did you learn about yourself through this experience?