Hi Amber, not sure if I got your question. When we listen, we do this in an active way, rather passively. To understand what the other is saying, you need to ask questions, you need to clarify it and you try to understand and feel what the other person is saying.  I don't think the point is to make it evident. Your body language will show it! Otherwise you'd fall into the category of "manufactured caring" as you put it. 

What Bruna said. Affirmative nodding helps, sometimes I throw in a statement that affirms what I sense is their feeling. "Sounds like you were terrified." Eye contact, and just being open to them. Be present. 

I agree with what's been said. I usually show my client that I'm attuned to them through my nonverbal (e.g., eye contact, warm and appropriate facial expressions, attending to them via my posture, etc.) and verbal behaviors (e..g, timely reflections of the content and feelings of their disclosure, questions, and/or comments).

Carl Rogers and his associates stated that we want our clients to perceive and experience our genuineness (authenticity), unconditional positive regard (i.e., our prizing of them), and empathy (our understanding), the core conditions of a facilitative counseling relationship.

I agree with you. We should always pay much attention to nonverbal communication. The transmitted message by 80% comes through it.

Hello Amber,

In order to do an active listening, we use questions, summaries and clarification in nursing practice. I have listed some article that could help you to figure out more strategies during the listening process of communication. Hope this helps.

Fassert et al. (2007). Active listening in medical consultations: Development of the Active Listening Observation Scale (ALOS-global). Patient Education and Counseling, 68(3), 258–264. 

Mesquita, Ana Cláudia, & Carvalho, Emilia Campos de. (2014). Therapeutic Listening as a health intervention strategy: an integrative review. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP, 48(6), 1127-1136.

Kourkouta, L., & Papathanasiou, I. V. (2014). Communication in Nursing Practice. Materia Socio-Medica, 26(1), 65–67. doi:10.5455/msm.2014.26.65-67.

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0080-62342014000601127&lng=en&tlng=en. 10.1590/S0080-623420140000700022

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738399107002637

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3990376/

Hi Amber,

During you interaction, you have two choices: verbal communication (language) and/or non-verbal communication by body language, facila expression, movment, eye contact, sound, etc. By the way, in order not to do any 'mistakes', be careful to the culture of the receiver.

Nonverbal communication in human interaction:  Mark Knapp, Judith Hall, Terrence Horgan Cengage Learning, 1 janv. 2013 - 528 pages

There is much wisdom in the above responses. As stated, both verbal and nonverbal communication must be sensitive and congruent. Verba responses must reflect your comprehension of the senders communication and affirm your support. I very much recommend readings from the classic philosopher Martin Buber in his discussion of the "I-thou" relationship as opposed to the "I-it" in professional situations where an imbalance of power exists.