How can you support a family member who feels misunderstood?

??1- Active Listening: Really hear them out without interrupting, showing you care and understand their feelings. ??2- Empathy: Let them know you get how they feel and that their emotions are valid and important. ??3- Open Communication: Create a safe space for honest talks, making sure they feel comfortable sharing their thoughts with you.

Honestly, I will just listen, and listen, and listen, and listen... you get the point? An important ingredient to listening is my answer to the question - "do I care about this person and how they're feeling?" If the answer is yes, I will listen to all they have to say. However, if the answer is no, pretending to listen would only make it worse. Hence, be honest with yourself. Secondly, if I believe I care, I would be listening to understand and not to respond. That means, the only words that would come out of my mouth, would be to better understand eg. asking question or stating what they are saying in my own words for their approval if I get it or not.

Feeling lost in the fam? Here's how I can help: Open ears, open heart: Listen actively without judgment. Let them vent and feel heard. Validate their feelings: "That sounds frustrating. It's okay to feel misunderstood." Empathy matters. Ask clarifying questions: "Can you tell me more about what happened?" Help them articulate their experience. Offer support, not solutions: Unless they ask, avoid fixing things. Sometimes just being there is enough. Encourage open communication: "Is there anything you can do differently to be understood?" Help them find their voice. By listening actively, validating their feelings, offering support, and encouraging open communication, I can be a rock for my family member who feels misunderstood.

To support a family member who feels misunderstood, actively listen without interrupting and validate their feelings. Show empathy by acknowledging their emotions and experiences. Avoid giving unsolicited advice; instead, ask how you can help. Create a safe, non-judgmental space for open communication. Encourage them to express themselves through activities they enjoy. Be patient and give them time to process their thoughts. Offer consistent reassurance of your support and understanding. If needed, suggest seeking professional help together, like counseling, to improve communication and understanding within the family.

Tout d’abord, en tant que professionnel il est mieux d’éviter de coacher un membre de sa famille car cela crée des confusions. Si voulez soutenir un membre de votre famille, le mieux n’est pas de le coacher mais de l’aimer. En effet, très souvent une personne qui se sent incomprise est en fait en manque de reconnaissance et donc d’amour. Ce sera plus professionnel, plus éthique et utile à la personne.

What’s helpful to be reminded of, is that everyone’s personal internal experience is different, and can be influenced by past experiences or triggers. When offering empathy, remember you’re there for support and understanding, even though you may disagree with how they’re feeling. They need to work through this. Be kind and understanding, while keeping in mind their experience is unique to them. This approach not only helps them, but it’s good practice for the listener to remember we’re all unique individuals experiencing similar situations differently, and that’s ok.

Empathy is a powerful tool for bridging gaps and strengthening relationships, especially within the family. It's about more than just understanding; it's about genuinely connecting with the emotions of your loved one. While you may not always agree with their perspective, acknowledging and validating their feelings demonstrates your willingness to understand and support them. This empathetic response not only soothes tensions but also fosters trust and lays the foundation for more meaningful communication and connection within the family.

Be present Listen without judgement or diagnosis The experience they have is true to them What are they really saying? Don’t try fix them Being understood means listened too & accepted

Validation is a cornerstone of supportive communication, especially within families. It's about accepting and respecting the emotions of your family member, even if you don't completely understand them. Rather than dismissing their feelings or jumping to solutions, simply acknowledging their experience can provide a profound sense of relief and connection. By offering reassurance that their emotions are valid and heard, you create a safe space for them to express themselves authentically and feel less isolated in their struggles.

When I work with clients who aren’t ready to share their feelings or experiences, one way I suggest for them to express themselves is to write in a diary. I call this ‘brain-dumping’ and it’s a very thoughtful, intentional, purposeful, and effective way of getting our feelings out; You just write down what comes to mind. You can write words or sentences. As long as how you’re feeling gets onto that paper. Or your tablet, or napkin… It’s a great way to ‘detoxify’, and a great way to organize your thoughts and see them on paper, and maybe even release some of those thoughts that really don’t serve you.

Encourage them to express their thoughts and feelings openly. Create a safe space where they can share without fear of judgment or criticism. This can help them process their emotions and feel more connected to you.

Encourage your family member to express their thoughts and feelings openly. Create a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing without fear of judgment. "Feel free to tell me more about what’s on your mind" can be an inviting way to prompt more expression.

Take the time to understand their perspective by asking open-ended questions. This not only shows that you care but also helps you gain a deeper insight into their feelings and experiences.

Make an effort to understand their perspective fully. Ask open-ended questions to gain deeper insight into their feelings and experiences. "Can you tell me more about why you feel this way?" shows your interest in truly understanding their point of view.