Please read from page 67 (starting with the heading “Empathy”) to the middle of page 73 (right before the
heading of “In Sum”) and share your thoughts on the following discussion questions:
According to the book, empathy is a form of therapeutic listening in which the emphatic listener “encourages
the other person to share his or her ideas and feelings” and “doesn’t impose her own opinions and values.
When you listen empathically, you don’t evaluate. Instead you promote honest, engaged communication
through total other-centered involvement in the encounter.” You have to realize that, sometimes, as a teacher,
you may be the only person a student feels comfortable talking to and you may need to become a counselor at
that moment.
With that in mind:

1. (OPTIONAL) When was a teacher there for you and how did that make you feel (debriefing)?
2. What information would you rather NOT hear from your students (policy deciding)?
3. When does an “open door policy” end (i.e. when is it appropriate for your to share your personal phone
   number or contact information with a student, just in case they ever need to talk?) (policy deciding)
4. Why are relationships with coaches (athletic, academic or club related) different than relationships with
   teachers (explanation)?