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Relationship Enhancement : A Study In Four Parts, Brett W. Oakley

Honors Theses

The concept of empathic communication evolved from a family therapy model originated by Bernard C. Gurney, Jr. called Relationship Enhancement. The major premise to this model is that if families can be taught to listen and speak to each other empathically, then the family itself could resolve their own interpersonal problems without reliance on a professional (Gurney, 1977).