60 Most Useful Empathizing Phrases Categorized for OET Speaking
Empathizing Phrases for OET Speaking
Here are the 60 most useful empathizing phrases for OET speaking categorized according to the situation. Empathizing phrases are an essential part of the OET speaking roleplays. Having a better understanding of the phrases and when to use them appropriately can make you stand out. It also helps you to sound natural and more native speaker-like conversations.
Building strong relationships
- I can see that you are upset.
- As I listen to you, it makes me feel
- Your anger/ sadness/ unhappiness etc makes total sense to me.
- I feel sad to hear that you experienced this.
Align with your patients with empathetic phrases
- You must feel so hopeless.
- I just feel such despair in you when you talk about this.
- I can feel the pain you feel.
- Oh, that sounds terrible.
- You must feel so helpless.
- That hurts me to hear that.
- I wish you didn’t have to go through that.
- That must have annoyed you.
- Wow, that must have hurt.
- You are making a lot of sense to me.
- That sounds a little frightening.
- I am sorry you are going through this
- Oh! That sounds really challenging.
- It makes me really sad to hear this happened.
Acknowledging the patient’s frustration
- You’re making total sense.
- I understand how you feel.
- I’d feel the same way you do in your situation.
- Well, I agree with most of what you’re saying.
- I understand what you’re feeling.
- I can understand how that would be difficult.
- I can imagine what you must be going through.
- What can I do to help you?
Use the right phrases for defusing tension with patients
- You are in a lot of pain here. I can feel it.
- It must be hard for you.
- This is a really challenging time for you.
- It’s understandable that you would feel
- What you are experiencing is quite normal and fades away sooner.
Confirming with empathy
- I see. Let me summarize: What you’re thinking here is…
- Okay, I think I get it. So what you’re feeling is…
- Let me try to summarize what you’re saying. You’re saying…
- I want to make sure I understand…
- From what you have said, it is clear why you’d be angry about that.
- You are totally right.
- I totally agree with you.
- You are absolutely right.
Encouraging patients with your empathetic statements
- It would be great to be free of this.
- You are making total sense.
- It is just a common phase.
- You will feel much better if you follow my suggestions.
- You are showing very good progress.
- Your present situation is very much satisfactory.
Reassure your patients with empathetic phrases
- I can reassure you that you are making steady progress.
- I can assure you that you are all good.
- Your progress indicates you will be recovering soon.
- Nothing to be alarmed about your condition.
Offer gratitude for honest feedback
- Thank you so much for notifying us about the issue.
- Thank you so much for your patience
- Thank you for telling me this.
- Thank you for your response.
- Thank you for accepting my suggestion.
Wrapping up the conversation
- Please let us know if you have additional questions.
- Is there anything else that I can help you with
- Have we discussed everything that you wanted?
- Is there anything else you want to share?
- I’m happy to listen any time.
- I hope I have clarified all your questions
- I hope I have addressed all your concerns