Try this
- Offer a small set of concrete choices, such as sitting nearby, a drink or being alone.
- Let the person indicate a choice in a comfortable way. Keep the choice tied to what happens next rather than using it to infer a complete emotional state.
A worked example
“You can point to tea, a walk, or quiet. You don’t need to explain.”
An invented example to adapt, not a real exchange or a script you have to follow.
Before you leave it here
Do not interpret a chosen activity as a complete account of the person’s mood.