It’s so difficult to see someone you love and care about struggling.  Most times, all you want to do is to make them feel better, but you feel helpless to do so on your own.  Perhaps, deep down, you know that they would probably benefit from talking to a therapist, but you aren’t quite sure how to broach that topic.

Suggesting the idea of seeking therapy can feel uncomfortable.  In some cases, you may anticipate the conversation being met with a lot of resistance.  So how can you have this delicate conversation without offending the person or making him or her feel worse?

The key is to approach the conversation from a place of love and concern.  If it’s someone you know well, such as a spouse, a family member, or a close friend, you can say something like, “I noticed you’re feeling this way and I love and care about you.  I really want you to be in a good place.  Would you feel ok talking to someone about this who is trained to help people work through these feelings?”

Sometimes you may notice a person struggling who you don’t know as personally, such as a client or an acquaintance, but you still want to help.  With these people, you may approach the conversation by saying something like, “I’m making this recommendation based on having your best interest in mind.  Seeing a therapist can relieve the symptoms you’re describing.  Would you like me to recommend someone who could help?”

The message that you want to convey is that you truly care about them and that you know there is a path to them feeling better.  By approaching this conversation from a place of love, you can successfully lead them down that path.