And concurring, but not agreeing with ‘scientology’, the fields of psychiatry and psychology have more of a monopoly than they should.
Perhaps you say, well, they have training. Yes, they have training to sit there with a stone face, and apparently never to say, Wow, that’s some bad stuff, I’m sorry that happened to you, you seem like an okay person. And apparently, never to proffer advice no matter how lightly.
Well, heck, a bartender or hair stylist with a little bit of snap can easily out compete this.
As can a speech therapist, an exercise coach, maybe also a shiatsu massage person, although if they’re also touching you it needs to be the lightest of light-touch advice.
In fact, when my dad and I went to visit my uncle in his later years, there was an older lady at the car rental place. My dad told her just a little about our visit. She said, Oh, these are the blessed years. That is, she performed well beyond a rather basic job description. She basically performed as a minister, which I appreciated even though I’m not a particularly religious person.
So, I say, listen actively without overdoing it, maybe proffer some light advice or not, either way is okay, perhaps just offer some encouragement, don’t get married to your own advice or religion in which you try to foist it onto the other person (harder to avoid this with a religion, because that’s often part of the religion)
So, listening, and light encouragement and/or advice, often less is more, and you, too, can help other people
