Empathy is seen as multifaceted and complex but it is important to remember that empathic understanding is what is essential to effective therapy

While it is clear that empathic understanding (and its perception by the other – see Point 21) rather than empathy per se is what is effective in person-centred therapy, there are arguments as to what is to be understood and responded to. For example, Grant (2010: 220-235) states that there can be two targets of empathic understanding – experiences and communications. He is of the opinion that only intended communications are proper targets for classical client-centred therapy and that to respond to experience is to be directive.