The Abiding Nature of Empathic Connections: A 10-Year Follow-up Study

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the enduring impact of the therapeutic encounter. Participants, who had engaged in therapeutic relationships 10 years previously and endorsed empathy as a catalyst for personal growth, were invited to reflect on their experiences and to articulate ways in which the relationships have continued to shape their ongoing development. Two predominant themes emerged: therapeutic relationship as a foundation for change, and affirmation/enhancement of personal agency, which was characterized by inter- and intrapersonal self-efficacy and by emotional regulation. This study confirms the abiding nature of personal growth well beyond the therapeutic encounter. Ten years later, participants continue to credit the therapeutic relationship as the basis for their personal growth.