Our Model, Vision, and Mission
Empathy is not simply “feeling someone else’s pain.” It’s the ability to understand and connect – while staying aware of your own needs, wants, and feelings.
Empathy is:
- Understanding what others are experiencing
- Awareness of your own limits and emotions
- A skill that can be learned, strengthened, and sustained
Empathy is not:
- Absorbing others’ pain
- Sacrificing your own well-being
- The same as sympathy or pity
When practiced in balance, empathy prevents burnout, identifies and resolves conflict, and enables genuine understanding and connection to flourish in individuals, organizations, and communities.
Vision and Mission
Vision– A peaceful world where empathy promotes increased engagement, connection, and growth.
Mission– Through science-based empathy training and applied psychological research, we help individuals and organizations turn empathy into action.
Our programs enhance emotional awareness, reduce stress and reactivity, and foster connection – preventing aggression while promoting collaboration, compassion, and peace.
In short, we teach people to lead with empathy.
Empathy Redefined for the 21st Century
Balanced empathy is empathy for others and oneself.
Image description: A Yin/Yang symbol with “Self” written in one half and “Others” written in the other
We DO NOT “teach” empathy; people are born with the capacity for empathy. We empower individuals to access and apply empathy in real-life situations. We have identified roadblocks, both conscious and unconscious, that prevent people from being empathetic. This work is defined by the following principles:
Empathy is not being a “doormat” – we must balance empathy for self and others
Empathy is hearing and listening, not solving another’s problems
Empathy is a process, not an outcome
Empathy for Others
Connecting deeply with another person’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences — building trust, reducing conflict, and promoting understanding.
Empathy for Self
Recognizing your own needs, limits, and emotions — preventing burnout and compassion fatigue, protecting mental health, and sustaining empathy over time.
TRUE EMPATHY IS BINOCULAR: IT REQUIRES BOTH LENSES TO SEE CLEARLY
Our Unique Approach
We tailor every program to your culture, mission, and needs. Whether working with a corporate leadership team, military unit, or healthcare system, each training experience integrates the five core empathy skills through guided learning, dialogue, and reflection.
The 5 Core Skills
- Cues — Recognize verbal and nonverbal signals that reveal emotion and need.
- Pulling the Curtain — Challenge assumptions to uncover what drives behavior.
- Shifting — Moving from an impulsive reaction to a thoughtful response.
- Boundaries — Considering the wants and needs of others and oneself.
- Feelings — Considering the feelings of others and oneself.
Our work is rooted in measurement and accountability. Using our proprietary Empathetic Capacity Assessment Tool, we help participants identify empathetic strengths and roadblocks, such as stress, bias, and misperception. We provide clear, actionable paths to growth.
Results you can expect
- Stronger communication and collaboration
- Lower conflict and improved morale
- Healthier, more productive workplaces
- Greater accountability and trust
- Cultures built on respect and psychological safety
Empathy doesn’t replace professionalism — it amplifies it.