The Importance of Empathy and Theory of Mind when Working as a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist

This paper critically evaluates how empathy and theory of the mind may be
relevant to Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy. Empathy and theory of
the mind has been the subject of much debate within psychotherapy domain.
There is important to critically evaluate mechanisms such as theory of the
mind and empathy. This is because we can gain useful insights into
understanding how both are different, but nonetheless, cooperative
mechanisms for sensibility in Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapy. The
definition of empathy is surrounded by much complexity in the literature.
This essay does not attempt to focus on absolutely every single aspect of
this specific issue. Instead it will concentrate on the dynamic relationship
between empathy and theory of the mind, and how these processes can
affect the psychotherapeutic outcome in Cognitive Behavioural
interventions.

Keywords: Theory of the Mind, CBT, Psychotherapy, Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome