16 Therapist-Approved Texts To Help A Friend Feel Better

Figuring out how to comfort a friend over text is something incredibly personal, as it speaks to your bond. Though it can be scary to guess wrong, Fleck says that attempting to intuit someone’s emotions demonstrates not only that you're paying attention, but that you deeply want to understand. If you’re totally off-base, that’s OK. “Guessing the wrong emotion provides an opportunity for them to add clarification, which will ultimately further the conversation,” Fleck says.

Relating the immediate circumstance to a larger picture helps to show the person you’re talking to that you fully get the weight of the situation. “Imagine if someone had to close down their bakery only a year after opening it. Now imagine that same person had cashed out their savings and retirement to launch the bakery, risking it all only to be left with nothing. Referencing this history, or putting their experience within this larger context, shows that you are making connections on their behalf,” Fleck says. “This elevates your text from a perfunctory check-in to a thoughtful exchange.”

“This is an example of what we call in therapy ‘taking action’ — it's one of the highest forms of validation, as it demonstrates that you're willing to invest your time or resources in the other person,” Fleck explains. This kind of offer not only lets the person know that you care, but that you’re willing to offer more time and energy into helping out — your concern wasn’t just a passing text.

While checking in with a friend who is going through a hard time might make them feel cared about, it might also make them feel responsible for keeping you updated. Letting them know they don’t need to respond removes that burden. “This clarifies that they can respond if they want,” Fleck says.

The goal should be to share something that helps to validate what they’re already feeling and make them feel less alone. “Putting in extra time and resources is an investment. As such, you are quite literally being more supportive,” Fleck says. Just make sure that you read the whole article, to be sure there isn’t a detail or conclusion that could belittle your friend’s feelings.

If you’re confident that you’ve stumbled across something that will, in fact, make this person smile, don’t miss out on an opportunity to give them a break from feeling low. “Irreverence is safe so long as it isn't tone deaf — if it falls in the ‘too soon?’ category, it probably is,” Fleck tells Bustle. A cute baby or puppy GIF, or a meme or TikTok that aligns with your friend’s sense of humor, can help take their mind off of their big issue.

“Ask non-judgmental questions about how the person feels and what is going through their mind because it gives that person an opportunity to vent [or] process, but also gives you insight into how they might need support,” Given tells Bustle. “I think it’s always good to try to gather some info because the way we experience hardship and the way we like to receive support can be so individualized,” she adds.

The best way to support someone isn’t always obvious. Asking them how they’d like to be supported gives them an opportunity to suggest something effective. If they don’t know what kind of support they need, Given suggests offering an idea and asking them if that would work for them. Try something like: “If I were in your shoes, I’d really want someone to just get coffee with me and talk. Would that be helpful right now?”

Helping someone feel like their reaction to a situation is justified is a powerful way to connect with them. “You might not be able to actually ‘do’ anything to help a friend,” Given tells Bustle, “but helping them feel like they’re not defective for how they are handling hardship can go a long way in helping someone feel supported and bolstering their confidence.”

Some people might feel overwhelmed and incapable of sharing too many details. Alternatively, some people might be worried about over-sharing or burdening someone with their feelings. “Giving someone permission to decide what they share is a way of demonstrating open-heartedness to them while also empowering them ... which can be very healing, especially if what they’re going through makes them feel powerless or out of control,” Given tells Bustle.

Feeling isolated can be a really scary experience, and getting down on the ground with someone without trying to pick them back up can be hugely impactful. “Just reminding them that you’re present with them and that you’re available to listen to them without judgement is so simple but so effective,” Given says.

The thing with true friendship is that you probably already know what your bestie will respond to positively. Given that you likely talk to them all the time, you basically already speak each other’s emotional languages without even knowing it — it just comes naturally. That being said, if you know your bestie is someone who will appreciate a short, concise, not super feely text, then send away. If that’s the case for them, “it can be helpful to not ask a direct question, and instead just let them know that you are thinking about them and hoping they are OK,” therapist Carrie Potter, LMHCA, tells Bustle.

Sometimes, though not always, all a friend needs is something to help take their mind off of things. If you can be that escape for them, offer it. "Just being there, without expectation or distraction, means a lot," Rev. Connie L. Habash, MA, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist, previously told Bustle. "Many people don’t take the time to simply be present with each other, even if it’s just washing dishes together, taking a walk, or hanging out on the couch."

Something like this can bring a brief amount of comfort and remind your friend that you are there if they need you, without putting them on the spot with face-to-face interaction. Especially if you know your friend is someone who needs to be alone to process their feelings at first, giving them space and something physical at the same time can be very heartfelt and thoughtful. “Some people are external processors and like to talk out how they are feeling with others,” Heidi McBain, LMFT, previously told Bustle. “Other people are internal processors and need time to first process alone, maybe through journaling or going for a long walk solo, before being ready to share their feelings.”

“This is an example of empowering with empathy,” Potter says. Toxic positivity is definitely a real thing. Offering too much positivity in opposition to someone’s upset feelings in the moment can feel incredibly invalidating. Sometimes all someone needs is a place to let their frustrations out uninterrupted. Having your friend’s back while they feel their feelings can often be better than immediately trying to help them move back to happiness.

As friendship expert and psychologist Dr. Marisa Franco, Ph.D., previously explained to Bustle, sending your friend pictures or videos of something you know they like will help cheer them up, especially if it’s something you have a shared feeling toward, such as a meme, cat TikToks, or a favorite celebrity. “I think all of that can be really thoughtful because it’s specific to what their likes and their needs and their interests are,” Franco said.