Yeah I generally don’t like it when people make Boomer-esque gender observations but this is definitely the result of a fight once and him trying to correct behavior to be more supportive/meet her where she needs him
There exist relationships where needs are not communicated through fights but through speech. I'm implying she might have just told him about her emotional needs instead of blowin up on him when they weren't met.
Keep working on it, it takes so much effort on my part to be like "man that really sucks" or "wow that sounds really frustrating" for the most part my SO knows the solution and just wants to be heard.
I've overheard her talking to her mom on the phone how supportive I am and how good of a listener I am. This is the first relationship I've managed to do these things and we're getting married in 4 weeks :)
My wife has heard a similar one that she uses -
"Do you want me to listen, get mad for you, or help you".
I think sometimes "do you want real talk" can be part of it once they've processed a little bit because the truth can be harder to hear.
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It can also be nice to ask “what have you already thought of” once you reach the solutions stage. Offers another chance for connection and making them feel like you are not assuming they haven’t thought of anything yet.
This one is hard. Only after having had every possible reasonable solution rejected, reaching the domain of frustration, do you realise that that perhaps they don't even want help. No words. Just nods.