Self Psychology represents a recent development of psychoanalysis which puts a lot of emphasis on empathy.

Empathy is generically considered one of the necessary therapeutic tools of a good clinician but its use in psychiatry appears to be generic and vague. This article aims to review the Self Psychological concept of empathy and its place in the Self Psychological conceptualization of the therapeutic process. It also investigate how Self Psychology can be apply in the context of psychiatric setting.

Review of current existent literature regarding the concept of empathy in Self Psychology and Self Psychology application in psychiatry setting, utilising the main database research tools. Extrapolation of the main therapeutic factors proposed by Self Psychology and evaluation of their possible application in the context of the more significant psychiatric settings.

Empathy appears to be central in Self Psychology conceptualization of the therapeutic process. Such therapeutic process appears to be reasonably applicable in different psychiatric settings.

Self Psychology can offer a considerable contribution to psychiatry in terms of better defining the role of empathy and emphatic attunement in the therapeutic process and thus enhancing the therapeutic outcome.

Nevertheless a lot questions remain open: can a treatment originally thought for a psychoanalytic setting being exported in the psychiatric setting? Can Self Psychology being applied by professionals who have not undergone a full psychoanalytic training?

Further empirical research is needed to evaluate possible contribution of Self Psychology in psychiatric setting.