Conversation Guide: Supporting A Friend
Part 2: What To Say and When To Say It

Most of us desperately want to help the people we love. We don't want to say the wrong thing, make things worse, or watch someone suffer without knowing what to do. So we do what seems most helpful: we offer advice, reassurance, encouragement, perspective, or try to solve the problem.

The problem is that while these seem

helping isn't just about what you say. It's about when you say it and whether the other person is actually ready to hear it.

In Part 1, we looked at why so many well-intentioned responses backfire. Phrases like "Everything happens for a reason," "You'll find someone better," or "Just leave" aren't usually harmful because they're factually wrong. They're harmful because they skip over the part people need first: feeling heard and understood.

This guide is about what to do instead.