O’Hara and Wood (1984, 2004) have d

O’Hara and Wood (1984, 2004) have described a more transpersonal level of
empathy that can be developed in groups where it is possible for the members
to tune into the formative direction of the group as a whole. When that happens,
groups can reach extraordinary levels of healing at both individual and
collective levels.
Implications for Group Leaders Empathic understanding is essential to foster
the climate of acceptance and trust necessary for the success of the group.
Empathy is a skill that can be developed—and it is a skill that an effective
group leader needs to develop.
In working with group counselors, I have found that many mistakenly assume
that they can’t be empathic unless they themselves have directly experienced
the same problems voiced by group members. Such an assumption
can severely limit the leader’s effectiveness. Clearly, one need not experience
incest to empathize with a group member’s anguish over reliving such a
painful experience. One need not to have been abandoned by a parent to feel
and experience the sadness of abandonment. It is not necessary to have been
divorced to share a client’s anger, hurt, and sadness about separation. Such experiences
come in many forms and, at one level or another, are common to us
all. Situations in every life trigger feelings of isolation, rage, resentment, guilt,
sadness, loss, or rejection—to name a few of the feelings that will be expressed
in groups. Our ability to experience anger, joy, fear, and love makes it possible