Empathise, taking top off to provide joy (5)
I believe the answer is:
elate
'provide joy' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'empathise taking top off' is the wordplay.
'empathise' becomes 'relate' (I've seen this in another clue).
'taking top off' means to remove the first letter.
'relate' with its first letter removed is 'ELATE'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for elate that I've seen before include "Fill with high spirits" , "Excite" , "Overjoy" , "cheer" , "Lift (the spirits)" .)