Douglas Flemons

Dr. Douglas Flemons, a marriage and family therapist and author, offers decades of clinical and supervisory experience. He reframes empathy as an active skill, contrasts it with sympathy, and debates cognitive versus affective empathy. Conversations cover microexpressions, translating somatic distress into language, handling suicidality and safety, and rituals to prevent vicarious trauma.

Douglas Flemons, psychologist and emeritus professor known for training clinicians, reframes empathy as an active, relational skill. He explores empathy versus sympathy and compassion. Short takes cover empathy as doing, imaginative perspective-taking, managing boundaries to avoid burnout, empathic missteps, and practical techniques for re-engaging clients and supervising empathic skill.