understanding other's mind

The purpose of this study was to explore the process of expressing empathy toward other children, through group therapy for a client who had difficulty in communicating with other children. In the first period, the client acted impulsively in group activity. The therapist encouraged him to pay attention to the activity and other children ; subsequently the client joined in the activity and took interest in other children. In the second period, the therapist tried making the client reflect upon himself and his own behavior. As a result, he gradually started to communicate with other children. In the third period, after therapist encouraged him to communicate with other children, the client began to consider other children by befriending a specific child. This client had difficulty in expressing empathy. He did feel empathy but he characteristically displayed high impulsivity and difficulty in understanding others' minds along with negative past experiences of getting scolded and bullied. We surmised that the client must express empathy with other children. This was achieved-first, by building a fiduciary relationship with the therapist ; second, by encouraging the client to pay attention to other children and the activity ; and third, by supporting the client in communicating with other children through the therapist's encouragement.