Empathy has been defined in a number of different ways. Some, such as Sarbin and Flavell, have emphasized the cognitive aspects of empathy by defining it as the ability to take-the-role-of-the-other. Others, such as Stewart, Borke, Iannotti, and Feshbach, have emphasized the affective processes involved in empathy. Although it is difficult, perhaps even impossible, totally to separate and distinguish cognitive and affective components as they interact in the actual expression of empathy, it may be that the significance and impact of these separate components of empathic ability will be found to vary under different conditions. Separation of the concept of empathy into components can serve to aid counselor trainees to apprehend and implement empathic behavior in their counseling. Finally, recognition of the complex nature of these cognitive and affective components of the empathy concept should enhance the counselor's awareness of, and effective communication with, others whose skills in this area may differ from his own. (Author)