Felicia McCaw's Exercise Assignment - INTERVIEW AND COUNSEL

Felicia McCaw
Sociology/Psychology 300
Interviewing &
Counseling

Felicia McCaw’s Exercise Assignment

Individual Practice
Exercise 3
Page 228 -229

Writing Helping Statements Representing the Five Levels of Empathy

“I’m having trouble here at the community college. I’m the first one in my family who has ever even attempted college. The work doesn’t seem all that hard, but when I turn papers in, my grades seem so low. It’s hard to make friends. I have to work, and I don’t have as much money as the other kids seem to.”

LEVEL 1 (subtractive) –

College is hard and you have to work and have less money.

LEVEL 2 (slightly subtractive) –

I understand your having trouble at college with grades and you have to work and have less money.

LEVEL 3 (interchangeable) –

I understand that you are having trouble at college and you are the first to go to community college. Also, that you are having trouble taking tests and scoring low and have no funds, less money than the other students and have to work.

LEVEL 4 (slightly additive) –

Seems like you are having trouble at college and you are not intimidated with the curriculum, but are scoring low on tests. Also, it seems you find it hard to make friends and have to work and have less money than the other kids.

LEVEL 5 (additive) –

I understand that you are troubled and upset because you are the first one to go to college. Further, I feel your dismay at scoring low on tests even though you say the classes are not that difficult and work is an issue and you don’t have a lot of money at your disposal like the other kids.




Felicia McCaw
Sociology/Psychology 300
Interviewing &
Counseling

Felicia McCaw’s Exercise Assignment

Individual Practice
Exercise 3 (continued)
Page 228 -229
Page 2

Carlena says (near tears), “Alexander and I just broke up. I don’t know what to do. We’ve been living together for almost a year. I don’t have any place to live, and I’m so confused.”

LEVEL 1 (subtractive) –

You and Alexander broke up and you don’t know what to do.

LEVEL 2 (slightly subtractive) –

I understand you and Alexander broke up and you don’t know what to do and are confused.

LEVEL 3 (interchangeable) –

I understand you are distraught and confused due to your break up with Alexander and don’t know what to do because you have no place to live.

LEVEL 4 (slightly additive) –

Alexander and you broke up and the uncertainty of what to do and no place to live is upsetting you.

LEVEL 5 (additive) –

I sense your devastation and hurt at the breakup of yourself and Alexander. Further, I know you are in pain because you have lived together for one year and are scared and fearful because you don’t have a place to lived and are confused.


Seems like you are having trouble at college and you are not intimidated with the curriculum, but are scoring low on tests. Also, it seems you find it hard to make friends and have to work and have less money than the other kids.


I understand that you are having trouble at college and you are the first to go to community college. Also, that you are having trouble taking tests and scoring low and have no funds, less money than the other students and have to work.

E - “Where to turn?”
RF - “Tired . . . “
P, RF - “You feel very tired and discouraged.”
P - “Searching for an apartment simply hasn’t been successful; they’re all so expensive.”
P, RF - “You look tired and discouraged; you’ve looked hard but haven’t been able to find an
apartment you can afford.”

“Right, I do feel tired and frustrated. In fact, I’m really angry. At one place they treated me like dirt!”

E - “Why do you feel tired, frustrated and angry?”
RF - “Tired, frustrated and angry . . . “
P, RF - “I understand that you are tired, frustrated and angry about how you was treated at one
place.

Individual Practice
Exercise 4
Page 193 - 194

Developing Skills Area 1 – Recognizing Varying Styles Toward Emotional Expression (see pages 188 – 189 for definitions)

“A client discusses arguments he (she) has with his (her) parents that occur just before leaving home.”

S - tears “I’m overwhelmed.”
S - “I feel really sad because of the argument I had with my parents last week.”
C - “As I think about it, I feel bad because we have so many arguments. It seem to be a
pattern, and we argue every time I am about to leave home for school.”
F - “I suppose we could look at it from several perspectives. First, it really hurts to have these arguments, but I know I have to find my own space, and perhaps it is part of my
becoming a separate person. I know my parents care for me; perhaps that’s why we
argue just before I leave home.”

Felicia McCaw
Sociology/Psychology 300
Interviewing &
Counseling
Page 2


Exercise 4
Page 193 - 194

Developing Skills Area 1 – Recognizing Varying Styles Toward Emotional Expression (see pages 188 – 189 for definitions)
(continued)

“A friend discusses reactions she (he) has to anxiety about an examination.”

C - “It’s maddening, and it made me angry when the professor didn’t bring the exam to
class today.”
F - “I suppose I can see the professor’s frame of reference. After all, she has 40 papers to
look over, and I know she looks awfully hassled. But it sure does make it difficult for
me to know where I am. A lot of students are really angry.”
S - “I’m scared. I can’t eat. My stomach hurts. I’m confused.”
D - “Professor Jones is often late. It’s typical of me to feel angry and upset when I have to wait. It’s an emotional pattern for me.”