SelfWork YGTG: Do Empaths Actually Exist? Here's The Debate
The SelfWork Podcast
Margaret Robinson Rutherford PhD
4.8 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 24 February 2021
⏱️ 5 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today I’m sharing the work of Stacey Wright, a psychotherapist in Georgia whose work is frequently featured on The Mighty. She specializes in the treatment of highly sensitive people. I thought what she had to say was very clear in her latest article on The Mighty. And she further distinguishes those who are highly sensitive (HSP) people to those she terms true "empaths."
And yet there's debate about the term and even the concept of an "empath" being a noun is disputed as an appropriate label for someone who's simply highly empathetic. We can hear the other side as it's voiced by Rick Cormier, a retired psychotherapist and author of Mixed Nuts, He says the term was lifted from Star Trek, in fact was made up by its creators, and doesn't exist other than in science fiction. It's a hot debate!
Whatever you believe, you can make up your own mind – But I hope you get the gist.
Important Links:
Contact Stacey Wright through her blog!
The Mighty's new podcast!
Judith Orloff’s newest book on thriving as an empath
You can hear more about mental health and many other topics by listening to my podcast, SelfWork with Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Subscribe to my website and receive one weekly newsletter including my weekly blog post and podcast! If you’d like to join my FaceBook closed group, then click here and answer the membership questions! Welcome!
My book entitled Perfectly Hidden Depression has arrived and you can order here! Its message is specifically for those with a struggle with strong perfectionism or need for control which acts to mask underlying emotional pain. But the many self-help techniques described can be used by everyone who chooses to begin to address emotions long hidden away that are clouding and sabotaging your current life.
And there’s a new way to send me a message! You can record by clicking below and ask your question or make a comment. You’ll have 90 seconds to do so and that time goes quickly. By recording, you’re giving SelfWork (and me) permission to use your voice on the podcast. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!
Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp and use my code betterhelp.com for a great deal: https://www.betterhelp.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to Selfwork. This is Selfwork's YGTG, or you get the gist. |
| 0:12.5 | Well, five minute intro to a topic that I found interesting. Today I'm sharing the work |
| 0:17.3 | of Stacey Wright, a psychotherapist in Georgia, whose work is frequently featured on the |
| 0:22.0 | Mighty, which is an incredible website, or as they say a digital health community, for |
| 0:26.8 | anyone who wants information and support on medical and mental illnesses, both common and rare. |
| 0:31.9 | It was actually founded by Mike Purath, who found himself with a child who suffered from a |
| 0:36.1 | more rare disease, and he could find very little information or support for them. It has now |
| 0:41.6 | over two million registered users, and they actually have a new podcast, which I will have |
| 0:46.4 | the link to in the show notes, it's called The Mighty. But back to Stacey Wright. She specializes |
| 0:51.9 | in the treatment of highly sensitive people and writes about it. These are her ideas. I'm learning |
| 0:56.9 | along with you on this topic. What I wanted this special YGTG is a distinction between highly |
| 1:03.4 | sensitive people and empaths, and do empaths actually exist. There's some controversy. |
| 1:09.3 | Stacey tells us highly sensitive people are individuals more attuned to the subtleties of the |
| 1:14.4 | environment, whose brains process and reflect on information more deeply, are often socially |
| 1:20.0 | inhibited by nature and prefer their own rich inner world to the external world. In fact, |
| 1:26.1 | they're likely to experience overstimulation or overrouse all of the nervous system because they |
| 1:31.6 | take in more. So she says empaths are also likely to be highly sensitive and especially gifted |
| 1:38.4 | in depth of processing. They're attuned to the emotions of others, often feeling a sixth sense |
| 1:44.2 | for unspoken dynamics in a group or between people, or even they feel an intense feeling or |
| 1:49.9 | sadness or fear and have no idea where it came from, only later to find out that something had |
| 1:55.7 | indeed happened to someone they care about. But does introversion or shyness fit in anywhere? |
| 2:01.9 | Stacey says about 70% of highly sensitive people are introverts or are people who need to be |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Margaret Robinson Rutherford PhD, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Margaret Robinson Rutherford PhD and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.