Empathy is recognized as a core human value in the health care and is now accepted widely as an important component of patient satisfaction and recovery patient adherence to care regimens, and patient belief in the value of the treatment. Empathy, coupled with an effort to alleviate suffering, equals compassion. Mindfulness principles can also be used to help clinicians more effectively to develop empathy. Clinicians frequently make the mistake of moving into problem-solving prematurely. Doing so often escalates the patient’s anger because it seems to dishonor the depth of the patient’s concerns. To honor a patient’s experience, to listen, validate, empathize, and accept the patient’s thoughts and feelings, requires a deliberate mindful stance, one of being open to, and finding value in, such efforts and to consider empathy-based activities as central to the clinician’s role.