Empathy – Activity 1

Recognize Responds

Activity type:
Cognitive method

Learning goals:
This exercise can help participants to learn about the different ways they can respond to a person in need of support, and why empathy is usually a good way to assist other people in overcoming their difficulties.

Specificities:
Individual or group activity, but shall be implemented in groups for the reflection part. The learners can go through the activity alone or in groups of 2 persons and then come back in one group to reflect upon their experience over the activity.

Duration:
45 minutes

Material needed:
“The list with responses” & Dialogues
(available online, link to drag and drop activity).


Instructions

There is a list of different types of responses that are common during interactions. Read each dialogue between A and B and decide what type of response B uses. Connect each type of response to each of the following “short dialogues” between user A and B.

Click here to open the exercise

This exercise has been inspired by the Bingo Exercise of Sherri Sorro
(source: Sherri Sorro- AVP/ The transformer: http://thetransformer.us/08-3.pdf)

Questions for reflection:

(After having finished the matching exercise participants get in groups for further reflections upon their choses) Also for the trainees

  • Which of the response style is most appropriate in a counselling session?
  • Which is/are not appropriate and a counsellor should avoid?
  • What role might empathy play in your workplace, classroom and community?
  • How has this activity impacted you?