This is a short "lecture" on compassionate listening.

1.look at them, keep eye contact if you look all over the place there going to think your more interested in the walls than them.

2.Reflect when they say something reply: "So you are saying that you are sad that your dog was run over." If you dont do this you may get the story wrong for example I said: "so your angry at your dad for taking you to the movies." Because thats what I might think they were trying to say that they might reply:no I'm really happy were getting closer. you never know but you have to get all the facts.


3. summary tell the whole story back to them so they know you listened and so they can correct anything you got wrong.