Why Did I create a new field?
As an aspiring clinical social worker, I started to realize some of the shortfalls with both the diagnostic system and our insurance reimbursement models. With insurance requiring a mental illness in order to help pay for my services, I realized that I would have to label people in ways that I do not personally agree with. Further, I realized that the only way people could actually afford my services is to obtain a mental health diagnosis signifying that they have some sort of issue, disorder, or disease. Our system often leads well-intentioned counselors to offer diagnoses prematurely in order to help clients afford their services. Even worse, it tells people that in order to see a counselor they must have some sort of diagnosis. These diagnoses can keep people from high-ranking positions and they can harm your likelihood of getting life insurance.
I also started to wonder why we don’t help keep people mentally healthy, as opposed to waiting for crises to unfold. Rather than attempt to treat disorders or diseases, it was my aim to promote health before issues arise. With so many repercussions from seeking mental health services and the lack of ability for our system to promote health before issues arise, I started to imagine a more fun and less costly way to promote mental wellbeing on a macro level.
I had four questions that lead me to the realization that we needed a new field of study and expertise:
- What does it take to promote mental wellbeing, rather than to treat symptoms of a broken system?
- Could I create a system that anyone could master without any previous educational experience?
- Could I create this system in a way that allowed people to maintain their individuality while creating a dependable and reproducible experience?
- Could I scale this so that every single person could one day access an Empathizer in their community?
What is an Empathizer?
Empathy is not counseling and Empathizers are not Counselors. There are no diagnoses and no treatments. Empath*ology helps clients understand their needs so that they can identify unmet needs, and work on strategies that will meet their needs. In an ideal world, children, teens, and adults could use empath*ology in order to prevent future mental health crises. As a member of the millennial generation, we struggle with so many mental health issues, and many of us have never had access to empath*ology or empathy services. We were never tested on the principles of empathy for standardized tests, and we did not practice empathy in our schools.
Empa-Tea seeks to create understanding through a re-education program that familiarizes clients with their feelings and needs. I use the word re-education because as a child you understand how to empathize with others on the day you were born. Our pets are also skilled empathizers, and yet they lack any formal education. Unfortunately, our educational systems privilege technical knowledge over empathy. As a result, we often lose our ability to empathize. Worst of all, our empathy experience can be sidetracked by our health insurance system in a way that impacts the way we receive care. Empath*ology sessions use the wisdom below to provide an intuitive and enjoyable empathy experience. We do not offer advice or tell you what you should or should not do. Whether you would like help with managing conflict or resolving your own inner conflict, Empa-Tea can help.
Below are a few of the theories that helped me establish Empath*ology. I have learned from experts in their fields and I have combined research from psychology, social work, public health, and more to create a wholistic health-promoting paradigm.
Non-Violent Communication
Non-Violent Communication (Compassionate Communication) – Empathizers work constantly to become more fluent in “giraffe language” – the language of the heart, to connect deeply to all beings through recognizing their feelings and needs. We do not judge the strategies you/others use to meet needs as good or bad. Rather we ask if the strategies meet needs. Finally, we give you the autonomy to choose the best strategies that will meet your needs.
We have do not exercise “power over” clients in any fashion. We do not claim to know what will be the best strategies for you. Once you receive empathy and understanding as we define it, we believe that the ideal strategies will simply come to you. Marshall Rosenberg, the founder of Non-Violent Communication, derived his knowledge from his Ph.D in clinical psychology (empathyology) and from comparative religion (empatheology). Science + Spirit come together to create a wholistic practice called Empath*ology.
A friend shared a definition of the word “humility” that we think really describes our service.
Humility is the ability to see a person’s needs and then act in ways to meet those needs when practical.
We strive to act with humility. Sometimes it may not be practical to act on a request, other times it may be. Saying “no” and mentioning our unmet needs behind the no can help us connect in consensual and mutually beneficial ways. Each session will be completely unique and the consent of all parties involved remains a crucial part of carrying out the Empath*ology practice
Human Scale Development – Needs
Manfred Max Neef’s “Human Scale Development” – instead of using the needs from Marshall’s NVC book, I choose to use Neef’s 9 fundamental human needs of: Sustenance, Protection, Affection, Understanding, Participation, Idleness, Creation, Identity, and Freedom. The goal of Human Scale Development is to empower the impoverished to become the subject of their own development as opposed to becoming the object that those in power try to develop on their own through programs and large bureaucratic institutions.
Need States
The language around need satisfaction can be confusing. Will making a request satisfy my needs forever? Will this one strategy always work as long as I don’t change a thing? The reality is that, while our needs stay the same, the strategies we use to meet needs must change with the changing environment. If you want to learn more about this phenomenon, you can learn from the food manufacturers’ handbook!
Food manufacturers understand that your needs change over time and they change with varying environments.
Food manufacturers have called this your “need state“. Your need state for a movie theater food experience might be different than your need state for an impressive 4-course meal with work colleagues. There are different strategies to meet your singular need for food, depending on your environment. In the same way, we have the same basic needs that are outlined above, but the strategies to meet those needs depend on your need state.
Much of the work at Empa-Tea is helping our clients understand their own needs, and how these needs change over time. With this understanding, you become the master of your own body and you start to imagine strategies that are both exciting and satisfying. Through our sessions individuals, groups, and businesses have evolved their thinking to find more fun and less costly ways of meeting their needs – iteration by iteration.
Yoga
Each empathizer will have some foundation of yoga practice or training. Many empathizers will be certified yoga teachers, and others will be practitioners and students. All empathizers will have the ability to lead a guided meditation, instruct simple or possibly complex yoga poses, and practice the principles of ahimsa – non-harm to sentient beings. Whatever the level of experience, each empathizer will have knowledge of at least 3 different simple yoga poses aimed at satisfying the different needs mentioned above.
Moving away from a human-centric focus
Up until now, Neef’s needs and Marshall’s non-violent communication have been applied strictly to humans. Empath*ology acknowledges that animals, and even plants, share fundamental needs and possibly feelings if we look deeply for them.
In fact, every single system has needs that must be met in order for the system to continue growing and evolving. A business has needs, if these needs go unmet, the business can go under. A building has needs, if they go unmet, the building could collapse, or sicken it’s inhabitants.
Empath*ology hopes to bridge the gap between humans and other systems because each living organism – or organization – requires subsistence and will thrive when their needs are met. Empath*ology can be used to improve relationships among others, ourselves, and other humans, but it can also be used to better understand our pets, plants, and mushrooms that we may grow for food or decoration. Getting in touch with the fundamental needs of all beings is the main goal of the practice and is reflected in the Empath*ology model.
The Nature Principle
The Nature Principle by Richard Louv – Those who practice Empath*ology owe it to themselves and their clients to ensure that the environment is one that helps meet human needs. Fresh air, sunlight, living plants, and connection to nature help us meet our fundamental human needs. Those who consider themselves empathizers share their work from a nature-based perspective. Empathizers will have a knowledge of their environment including native wild plants, animals, and fungi. We can learn a lot about our needs from the needs of others, this is an integral part of the empathy practice, to be able to empathize across species and cultures.
