InRainbows
I wish my niece would talk more to me. Maybe she is afraid that I will judge her experiences or the emotions tied to her decision. I just want to be able to help. My sister I am supporting the best that I can too but there is so much anger and any situation she mentions are garbled with no wrong found on her part. It's dawning on me that perhaps I don't know either as well as I once thought and the help I offer may not be what is needed.
You are helping I think by providing a listening ear. The only possible other strategy is gentle open questions "What might have made her feel that?" or "What was your thinking behind saying/doing that?"
Any replies are responded to with "I see" or another open question like "When you did/said that what happened?"
At this stage I would suggest not giving opinions.
Re your niece just gentle questions like "How are you doing?" at least make you available if she wants you to be
💐


