How to Support a Friend Without Playing Therapist

When a friend is struggling, how do you offer real support without pretending to be a therapist? This episode breaks down the evidence—from a Lancet Psychiatry meta-analysis on peer support to Georgetown’s “ask vs. guess” communication framework—and gives you concrete scripts for navigating these conversations. You’ll learn why unsolicited advice often backfires, how to offer emotional validation without fixing, and the surprisingly simple question that puts the other person in control. We also tackle the harder half: how to honestly say “I don’t have the bandwidth” without ending the friendship.