Empathetic Listeners Prints

"God, I hardly know where to begin."

"You can't possibly know how I feel. Everybody likes you."

Cares and woes.

"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."

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

'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.

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

The Children's Hospital

'She saw right through me.'

"I believe you were complaining about your cold this morning."

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.

"You have zero empathy, Carlton. And I can't even begin to imagine what that's like."

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

'I thought you were supposed to do no harm!'

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

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

'My life is a joke.'

4th of July and PTSD

'Now then, tell me about your fear of being alone.'

Open Book Therapy

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.

"I think A.I. understands me more than my family does."

'Do you want someone to help you or do you just want someone to hold your hand?'

"Ask me about my long face."

"Having grown up and gone to school in uneventful times your mother and I both know what you're going through".

"She no longer laughs at my joke."

Deflate counselling service

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

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

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

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

Don't tell me you're ok! You're not ok! I can smell the hurt inside you! Don't walk away! Talk to me! Beware of Emotional Support Dog.

"I'm washed up"

"I DO like you. YOU don't like you."