Which of the following statements accurately differentiates between sympathy and empathy in crisis counseling?

Sympathy involves acknowledging the distress of another person and expressing concern or sadness about their situation, but it typically places the counselor in a position of emotional distance. This means that while the counselor can feel compassion for the client, they are not necessarily experiencing the emotions of the client as their own. Sympathy can often lead to a form of personal ownership where the counselor's own feelings become a focal point in the interaction.

In contrast, empathy is about the counselor's ability to understand and share the feelings of the client, allowing for a deeper connection without overshadowing the client's experience. Empathy involves active listening and validation of the client's emotions, reflecting back what the client is feeling without interjecting their own emotional state. It promotes a sense of shared understanding and emotional resonance.

The other options do not accurately portray the distinctions between sympathy and empathy. The idea that both terms are the same in practice negates the critical differences between experiencing sympathy (a more detached emotional response) and empathy (a profound understanding and sharing of the client's emotional experience). Likewise, the notion that sympathy requires complete emotional detachment is misleading, as someone can still feel concern while maintaining a level of professional distance. The concept of sympathy using more “worker-owned statements” also misrepresents the