Remember that whatever anyone does, it is an effort to meet a need.
Never connect yourself with the other person's pain. Just hear their need. Leave yourself out of the other person's feelings and needs.
The most dangerous of all behaviors may consist of doing things 'because we're supposed to.
Empathizing with someone's 'no' protects us from taking it personally.
We need empathy to give empathy.
Power-Over leads to punishment and violence. Power-With leads to compassion and understanding, and to learning motivated by reverence for life rather than fear, guilt, shame, or anger.