Empathetic Listener Gifts

'Of course I'm listening to your expression of spiritual suffering. Don't you see me making eye contact, striking an open posture, leaning towards you and nodding empathetically?'

'There is no one who understands me.'

"I agree that racism is terrible, and I sympathize with your struggles, but Jesus Christ Larry, do we really have to talk about it?"

'It's nothing to worry about nurse. It's only teeth bites on your tongue. Lots of good listeners have them.'

'I have this constant ringing in my ears. I think I have tinnitus.' - 'Does it sound like an 'eeeeeee' or a 'shhhhh'?' - 'It's like the murmer of a thousand forgotten souls quietly lamenting past sorrows.' - 'Hmmm. I don't have a checkbox for that, sadly.

"Hopefully my body language tells you all you need to know."

Cares and woes.

'OK, nod a little slower this time. Then let's work on saying 'mm-hmm, go on' ...you try it.'

Office of Dr. Elizabeth Johnson

'I don't know how you stand listening to people's problems all of the time, Doctor Barnes.'

"Lately I've been feeling so alone"

"I'm washed up"

Deflate counselling service

You're on, caller. What's your problem? My baby won't stop crying. How do I get her to stop? What do you mean, "get her to stop"? Your baby's a human being and she already has things she wants to tell you. Crying is the only language she knows. Just hold her, tell her "I hear you" ... ... AND GROW A THICKER SKIN! BABY TEARS AREN'T LITTLE GRENADES, LOSER! I wish she'd just text me like everyone else.

Working in a library is also about listening to people's medical problems.

"I was listening—you said you feel totally empty inside and you don't think you can go on anymore."

"Bad day?"

'Yes, puberty did put me through a lot of stress. . . but it was my daughters puberty.'

4th of July and PTSD

"I totally get where you're coming from."

"Making a bad choice would be better than having no choice at all."

"Thanks, I knew I could count on you to turn my problem into something way worse that happened to you."

"We must do something about these refugees..."

"Officer, I'd like to report... a sexual assault. I was at a part, this guy... he attacked me."

'I'm going to put you in touch with reality.', 'Can't I just sneak up on it?'

'She saw right through me.'

"Doctor, I find you very easy to talk to."

4,489 American troops lost their lives in Iraq, and thousands were seriously wounded for life. Some accounts say half a million Iraqis died because of the war. But you know what? If it turns out they all sacrificed in vain, then that's the most powerful reminder there is that wars of choice do not end well. ... In which case they did NOT sacrifice in vain. I've forgotten what you just said.

Open Book Therapy

'Now you call? Now that fierce competition has reduced long-distance to little more than a cheap, unprofitable commodity. Now you call your mother?'

"Ask me about my long face."

"She no longer laughs at my joke."

"I think you may need to start seeing me twice a week for a while."

"...But rock bottom is my comfort zone!"

"When euphemism time comes which would you prefer - 'passed away' or should I just say that he boxed?"