Usually when someone is venting at me, I feel like I should respond somehow and say something, but I have no idea what that something could/should be. Is it better to just listen or try to comfort them in some way?
Usually when someone is venting at me, I feel like I should respond somehow and say something, but I have no idea what that something could/should be. Is it better to just listen or try to comfort them in some way?
Asking them some genuine non-confrontational questions about their feelings or possible solutions to the situation usually works fine for me. I feel like people often vent about situations where they feel kinda helpless. Questions from you could help them not only to feel seen/heard, but also to switch to a more “proactive” state of mind where the source of venting could start looking like a problem with possible solutions.
Other times people just want to vent for the sake of venting and want no input from you whatsoever. Just let them.