Balancing Trust and Safety Need for Conversation: You noticed Alex has been upset with you 1. Describe your observations and state your concerns.
I noticed you seem upset.
2. Add in empathy.
You're going through a difficult time and I want to be as helpful as possible without overwhelming you.
3. Next, provide them with an opportunity to express their need for boundaries.
How do you feel about how I've been supporting you? Is there anything I could change?
Listen actively to the person in need. 4. Confirm what they're saying and It sounds like you feel ______________, provide empathy. I can see why this might be the case. 5. Let them know what you would feel most comfortable with.
For safety reasons, I would feel most comfortable with ______________.
6. Ask about their comfort level.
What would you feel most comfortable with?
Listen actively to the person in need. 7. Confirm what they're saying and From what I'm hearing, it sounds like provide empathy. ______________. I can see where you are coming from. 8. Suggest a middle ground and work towards a solution you can both agree on. This may require some back and forth.
Would you be open to ______________?
9. Confirm your mutual agreement and provide an invitation on your part to readjust this as needed.
Thank you for talking to me about this. It's important for us to be on the same page. If there are times you feel frustrated, let me know so we can talk more about what works best for us.
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