As you cast Empathic Ray, choose either "damage" or "healing". The effect varies depending on what you choose. Empathic Ray only counts as a damaging effect if you choose "damage" and only as a healing effect if you choose "healing".
If you do not take any damage before the start of your next turn, you regain the HP you spent on Empathic Ray. This counts as a regeneration effect and a healing effect. This is the only part of Empathic Ray that counts as a regeneration effect.