1. Take their concerns seriously
- Listen first to understand and acknowledge
- Pause on sharing your point of view or trying to fix a problem
2. Validate their experience
- Ask open-ended questions
- Request clarification
- Paraphrase what was said so they know you’ve heard them
3. Help them feel supported
- Mirror feelings
- Use positive body language (stay open, have a relaxed body posture)
- If relevant and applicable, share a similar experience you may have had
4. Give your full attention to their words and body language without judgment to deepen your understanding of their concerns
- Try not to interrupt
- Avoid giving advice
5. Offer help
- Offer to walk with them through the process of finding and seeking help from a therapist or online resource
- Offer to help schedule an appointment
- Offer to accompany them to their first session
