Asking permission before giving advice or asking what the distressed person already knows or has already been told about a topic before giving advice. Indirect forms of permission can also occur, such as when the supporter invites the distressed person to disregard the advice as appropriate.

This type of sentences mostly includes phrases such as:

• It maybe helpful to
• I would encourage you to
• You may want to
• It would be a good idea to
• Perhaps you can
• It may be important to
• I wonder if you can
• An option would be to
• can help you to
• able to help you
• Would be helpful
• might help you
• you may find helpful
• You may want to consider
• You may consider
• I would recommend
• If you would like
• can be a great way
• if you would like
• I wonder if you can consider

Examples of giving advise with permission (The phrases indicative of "Advise with permission" are highlighted in bold):

• "If you agree with it, we could try to brainstorm some ideas that might help you"
• "I have some information about how to reduce your risk of colon cancer and I wonder if I might discuss it with you."
• "This may not be the right thing for you, but some of my clients have had good luck setting the alarm on their wristwatch to help them remember to check their blood sugars 2 hours after lunch."
• I would encourage you to take the next step and reach out to a professional you can trust and build rapport with by co-journeying through whatever concerns you have
• When those fights do come up, perhaps it's a good idea to back off a bit, maybe both of you write down your thoughts, and then come back to talk.
• Perhaps, if you feel like it, you might make a post addressing this topic on /r/askmen.
• If  he is willing, I wonder if there may be a depression support group in your area such as NAMI or DBSA where he could hear from from others living with depression and their families.
• You may want to consider the purchase of a S. A. D. Light.
• Its possible that you could look for similar situations and see if anyone catches your interest to know as a friend.
• If you are up for it, perhaps the best place to start is by seeing a physician or a therapist who can help determine how severe the depression is
• It would be a good idea to talk with them about it so you feel more at ease.
• Maybe you need more time to reflect and organize your thoughts.

Making suggestions, offering solutions or possible actions without first obtaining permission from the distressed person.

This type of sentences mostly includes phrases such as:

• You should
• You could
• Why don’t you
• Consider
• Try
• I suggest
• I advise you to

Examples of advising without permission (The phrases indicative of "Advise without permission" are highlighted in bold):

• "You should simply scribble a note that reminds you to turn the computer off during breaks"
• "What about trying to get a ride from a friend?"
• "Checking your blood sugar five times a day is best in the beginning"
• "It worked for me and it will work for you if you give it a try. We need to find the right AA meeting for you. You just didn’t find a good one."
• You shouldn't feel guilty over who you want to date.
• Try to celebrate the little victories.
• Don't be afraid of not always knowing how you are supposed to feel.
• You need to find a counsellor you can trust, which definitely makes a huge difference.
• But most importantly, you two need to get together and talk things through.
• I know this sounds a bit unrealistic from your point of view, but trust me, ditch your friends.
• Think about your hobbies, the things you like to do, and find someone or a community who also likes those things.
• I suggest that she see a therapist on her own in order to better understand and cope with her anxiety and depression, especially given her suicidal thoughts.