Active listening
It feels like the other person is there for them truly and intentionally, when the intent is to understand the other person. Not to interject with one’s own thoughts and opinions. The validation and empathy to innately put one in the other person’s situation. Along with embracing their reality fully. It is a very deeply compassionate space to share between two people, through the act of active listening.
The need to be understood is satisfied for the person suffering. It is held in their emotionality of the situation. Growing with the other person in their healing and feeling listened to. This in itself provides the validation of being seen and heard for their reality.
This connection is very much the regulation of nervous system. This helps in healing the suffering. This coregulation of two nervous systems is achieved through a deep understanding of each other. This interpersonal effectiveness skill to deeply listen to understand and not provide advice is very much role modeled in therapeutic environments. It is hence the coregulation that results in the nervous systems for the client.
With one healthy relationship to role model active listening as a modality of interoception achieved, the client can then go out in their environment to practice this active listening. To engage effectively, they can do so within their interpersonal relationships starting with healthy relationships first. Then this comes out of practice to engage in any interpersonal relationship of theirs. To listen to understand first than to provide their own views in the moment. This helps as an effective conflict resolution tool as well before the solutions are hashed out.