For any patient dealing with fractures, dislocations, or concussions, recovering from a stroke, or trying to overcome addiction, rehabilitation is a part of recovery.
The goal of rehab is to help patients regain, maintain, or improve physical, mental, or cognitive abilities that they need for daily life. According to WHO, rehab helps children, adults, and seniors to be as independent as possible in everyday activities.
Rehab after injury, medical condition, or addiction can be hard. Pain, discomfort, the need for consistent effort even when progress seems slow, and the mental hurdle of adapting to a new routine while your body heals make rehab difficult. That’s where you come in.
At that moment, what do they need the most from you? Sure, they need your expertise, your treatment plan, and your guidance. But above all, they need your empathy.
Empathy makes patients feel heard, valued, and understood—qualities that can make all the difference in their recovery journey.
So, how do you cultivate empathy as a rehab professional? Let’s explore.
Importance of Empathy in Rehabilitation
Empathy is the ability to grasp emotionally what others feel, see things from their perspective, and put yourself in their shoes, explains Verywell Mind.
Patients in rehab often deal with pain, frustration, and uncertainty. Changes in the physical ability, as well as the pain involved with rehabilitation, can trigger a wide range of emotional responses. Hence, it’s not uncommon for patients to experience depression and anxiety. Many patients even experience guilt, retaliation, vulnerability, and aggression.
In rehab, empathy fosters trust, connection, and better outcomes.
When rehab professionals approach patients with empathy, they create an environment where patients feel truly seen and heard. As a result, patients are more likely to adhere to their treatment plans and practice self-care, remarks Harvard Medical School.
A patient recovering from a stroke, for instance, struggles to regain the ability to button their shirt.
Without empathy, a therapist might focus solely on the mechanics of the task, i.e., grip strength, hand coordination, and repetition. But with empathy, the therapist recognizes the emotional weight behind the struggle. Addressing the task with empathy helps the patient feel supported, not just instructed.
UK Addiction Treatment Centres, or UKAT, deserve a mention in this regard. It’s one of the largest private addiction treatment firms, founded on the principles of empathy and compassion.
Empathy in Action: 6 Tips for Rehab Professionals
Here are a few tips on how you can hone your empathy skills as a rehab professional:
1. Start Every Session by Checking In
Don’t you feel good when someone checks in on you? Your patients also feel the same way.
A quick check-in before every session won’t just make you appear polite. But it will also help establish a personal connection and make the session a positive and productive one.
Checking in doesn’t mean you must engage in a long conversation. Just a simple how are you feeling today or how was your week would make a world of difference.
Don’t just ask for the sake of it, however. Ask in such a way that shows you genuinely care for your patients. That way, your patients will willingly share what is really in their minds.
Whether they are feeling frustrated about their progress or are happy due to a minor improvement, they will share it with you eagerly. Positive or negative—whatever their answer is, it will give you insight into how they approach the session.
This check-in also helps you adjust your approach. If a patient walks in feeling discouraged, you might spend a few extra minutes offering encouragement before diving into exercises. If they are fatigued or exhausted, you might modify the plan to accommodate their energy levels.
Beyond the clinical benefits, checking in will make your patients feel like more than just another appointment on your schedule. That will help you strengthen the therapeutic relationship, which will make them more likely to engage fully in their treatment.
2. Take the Time to Listen to Your Patients
You can’t empathize with another person if you’re unwilling to hear what they have to say. And that is why active listening skills are vital to developing empathy.
Active listening means going beyond just pretending to listen. HelpGuide.org advises listening so intently that you gain an understanding of the emotions, views, and situations of your patients.
Stress is a barrier to listening. You will have a hard time focusing on the other person if you’re stressed out. Before conducting the session, address the stressor—whether it’s a looming deadline or something else.
Another barrier to active listening is multi-tasking. When you have a session with your patients, stop whatever else you’re doing so that you can give them your undivided attention.
Listening will also help you tailor your care. When a patient shares what is working, what is not, or even what they are afraid of, you can adjust your approach accordingly.
Maybe they are hesitant about a particular exercise because it triggers pain, or perhaps they are feeling disheartened by slow progress. Listening allows you to address these concerns directly and collaboratively.
Also, do not interrupt when your patients speak. The British Heart Foundation states that being interrupted gives the speaker the impression that they are not important. Or that you don’t have time to listen to what they say.
3. Be Aware of Your Body Language
Your body language can say just as much—if not more—than your words.
An article published in The University of Texas Permian Basin revealed that 55% of communication is nonverbal. That is not to say, information isn’t conveyed verbally; it is. But the thing is that body language, and verbal expressions have an incredible impact on how the information is interpreted.
Crossing your arms, avoiding eye contact, or glancing at the clock can unintentionally send the message that you’re disengaged. You might do so mindlessly, but your patients might take them as a sign of disinterest. Hence, they may stop sharing their concerns or thoughts with you.
Instead, lean slightly forward, make eye contact, and nod as they speak. These actions will convey to them that you’re interested in what they are saying.
Open and welcoming body language—like uncrossed arms, relaxed posture, and a warm smile—helps put patients at ease. It shows you are approachable and genuinely invested in their progress.
Even small adjustments, like turning your body fully toward them when they are talking, can signal that you’re giving them your undivided attention.
Some other little-known body language gestures that signal deep empathy are respectful silence and a soft smile, says Global English Editing.
Being aware of your body language also means to mirror your patient’s emotional state.
Are your patients anxious or upset? Adopt a calm, steady posture, then. That will make them feel grounded and reassured. On the flip side, if they are celebrating a win, match their enthusiasm with a big smile or a high-five to reinforce their success.
4. Address Concerns Promptly
A patient who feels heard is a patient who feels cared for.
When a patient brings up a concern—whether it’s about pain, progress, or a specific exercise—address it promptly. Doing so will show your patients that their comfort and confidence are priorities, not afterthoughts.
Take, for example, you’re an addiction counselor working with patients battling opioid use disorder (OUD). The U.S. has the greatest rate of illicit drug-related deaths. This is largely driven by a steep rise in opioid-related fatalities, states Our World In Data. That makes it clear that opioid is the most abused substance in the U.S.
To combat this crisis, addiction counselors generally prescribe Suboxone to patients.
According to the American Addiction Centers, the buprenorphine/naloxone drug helps people overcome opioid addiction by reducing cravings and managing withdrawal symptoms.
Though an effective medication in treating OUD, Suboxone has been under fire in recent years.
Patients who have been on Suboxone for OUD complained of suffering dental injuries, such as cavities, tooth loss, and gum disease. As a result, people are filing Suboxone lawsuits.
These suits, filed against Indivior, claim that the manufacturer failed to warn them about the risks of dental injuries linked with Suboxone films, informs TorHoerman Law.
As of December 2024, the Suboxone lawsuit was being consolidated into MDL in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Now, lawsuits surrounding Suboxone are making patients wary of trying it. You must address their worries immediately. Listen to their concerns, provide evidence-based information, and reassure them about the safety and efficacy of their treatment plan.
If they are still apprehensive about trying Suboxone, prescribe an alternative. Last year in May, the FDA approved Brixadi, a new buprenorphine treatment for OUD. You can prescribe this new treatment to your patients instead of Suboxone.
Brixadi is available in two formulations—a monthly and a weekly injection. The former is for patients who are already being treated with buprenorphine, and the latter is for those who have started the treatment.
5. Adapt to Their Needs
Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that rehabilitation programs are specially tailored for each individual based on the injury, disease, or sickness. This means that not every patient responds to the same approach—you need to understand that.
Some people thrive on tough love and high-energy encouragement. Others need a gentler touch and lots of reassurance.
Be flexible in your approach. This will show your patients that you see them as individuals, not just a diagnosis.
Let’s say a patient is having an off day. Maybe they are dealing with pain, low energy, or just feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Instead of sticking rigidly to the planned exercises, adjust to their current state.
You can, for instance, focus on gentler stretches or have a lighter session. This will make a huge difference. This will show that you’re empathetic towards them, and the session will be productive without pushing too hard.
Tailoring your approach also means being receptive to feedback. If your patients are uncomfortable with any method, don’t force them to follow it. Collaborate with them to find an alternative approach that works. This will empower patients and boost their confidence in their own recovery.
6. Embrace Your Vulnerability
Empathy is a two-way street.
It’s important to maintain professional boundaries. But empathy requires you to make yourself vulnerable.
James Madison University says that vulnerability is often equated with weakness. Many people—not wanting to appear weak—spend their lives protecting themselves from feeling vulnerable. But being vulnerable doesn’t mean being weak; it’s actually courageous.
Patients often feel scared, frustrated, or even defeated during recovery. They might feel intimidated if you come across as overly perfect or detached. But when you show a little of your human side, it will create a safe, relatable space. For instance, sharing how you overcame a difficult situation can be incredibly impactful.
At the end of the day, rehab is about so much more than physical healing. It’s about helping people rediscover their strength, independence, and hope. And none of that is possible without empathy.
Cultivating empathy makes you more than just a rehab specialist; you become a partner in your patient’s recovery. That, ultimately, drives real progress as patients not only regain their physical capabilities, but also their confidence and sense of self-worth. And that is the kind of healing that makes all the difference.
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