the view from the top [of the staircase of listening].

Okay, well, while I undoubtedly have a long, long way to go before I make it to THE TOP of the steps of listening (ie empathic listening), I did go to the forum about mental health/drug treatment for prisoners with such troubles (as opposed to incarceration, which doesn't do anything for them beyond keeping them out of society). And the speaker (Judge Brent Moss) at one point quoted something that made me think of, y'know, this class and what we've been learning. And that statement waaaaasss:


"Remember that your judgement is no better than your understanding."

So when you're up to empathic listening, you're not judging, because you're too busy listening in order to understand. Cool, huh? Yeah, I thought so, too. Someday, if I ever become a mental health professional (scary thought...) I will remember this and apply it with the people I am helping. Well, really, I should try this in my day to day life, too, actually...