Dear Abby: My sister treats me like a therapist — how do I get her to see a professional?

DEAR ABBY: My sister, whom I dearly love, is going done immoderate difficult times. She confides successful maine astir her troubles, and I gladly perceive and springiness advice.

Although I americium consenting to perceive and help, I consciousness she would really use from seeing a therapist to thief her flooded immoderate of her challenges.

I besides cognize that her decisions are hers to make, and I don’t want my perspectives to get betwixt america erstwhile I opportunity thing she whitethorn disagree with. 

How tin I urge she get master thief without it sounding for illustration I’m pushing her distant and discouraging her from sharing her feelings pinch me?

When I mentioned therapy a fewer years ago, she said I should beryllium her therapist. I told her that was sweet, but therapists person unsocial skills that I don’t have. 

My sister is connected a very constricted income, and I’m not definite what it would costs done her insurance. She does consciousness therapy is “good,” but has ne'er really done it.

She often says she tin grip these issues connected her own, and I fishy she’d beryllium resistant to counseling because it would beryllium for illustration surrendering. Advice? — HELPFUL SISTER IN COLORADO

DEAR SISTER: Tell your sister you emotion her, but you would for illustration her to talk her issues pinch a licensed psychotherapist because, successful nan years she has been confiding successful you, she hasn’t made progress.

It’s nan truth. Point her successful nan guidance of her wellness security company, because it tin supply her pinch a database of approved therapists.

If that isn’t affordable, low-cost counseling whitethorn beryllium disposable done nan section section of intelligence wellness services aliases from a assemblage aliases assemblage that has a section of psychology. 

DEAR ABBY: My youngest girl will beryllium getting joined successful 3 months. I americium 69 and person been a widower for six years.

I person been making love a widow, “Rose,” who was a precocious schoolhouse friend I bumped into astatine religion while she was successful municipality caring for her mother aft our spouses passed away. She is well-accepted by my family and friends.

Rose is concerned astir her domiciled successful nan wedding. I person discussed this pinch her and indicated that her domiciled is to beryllium a impermanent of nan wedding mates arsenic good arsenic my day for nan evening.

I judge this is due and nan correct measurement to reside this situation. I would admit immoderate further comments aliases suggestions you whitethorn have. — FATHER OF THE BRIDE IN MICHIGAN

DEAR FATHER: I stitchery from your mobility that you whitethorn beryllium receiving immoderate unit from your woman friend to participate successful nan wedding.

She whitethorn beryllium well-accepted by nan family, but if your youngest girl and her fiance wanted Rose to beryllium much than a invited guest, they would person invited her to beryllium portion of nan bridal party.

Tell Rose that she is your date, and her domiciled is to attend, person a bully clip pinch you and support nan happy couple.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, besides known arsenic Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby astatine DearAbby.com aliases P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.