50 Empathy Statements Every Health Coach Should Know

Empathy is the foundation of every great coaching relationship. When clients feel truly understood, they open up, take risks, and do the deep work that creates lasting change.

But expressing empathy isn't always easy—especially in the moment when you're also thinking about what question to ask next, tracking time, and considering your next move.

Having a repertoire of empathy statements ready to use gives you a safety net. These aren't scripts to read verbatim, but templates you can adapt to any situation.

Here are 50 empathy statements organized by situation, ready for you to use in your next session.

When Clients Are Frustrated

• •That sounds really frustrating.
• •I can hear how much this has been weighing on you.
• •It makes sense that you'd feel stuck after trying so many things.
• •You've been working hard and not seeing the results you hoped for—that's discouraging.
• •Feeling like you're going in circles is exhausting.

When Clients Are Scared or Anxious

• •This feels really uncertain for you.
• •It's natural to feel anxious about making such a big change.
• •Taking this step feels risky, even if you want the outcome.
• •The unknown can be really uncomfortable.
• •Part of you wants to move forward, and part of you wants to stay safe where you are.

When Clients Are Sad or Grieving

• •This is a real loss for you.
• •That's a lot to sit with.
• •Grief doesn't follow a schedule—it shows up when it shows up.
• •It sounds like this has been really painful.
• •Sometimes there aren't words for what you're feeling.

When Clients Feel Hopeless

• •It's hard to see a path forward right now.
• •When nothing seems to work, it's natural to wonder if anything will.
• •You've been fighting this for a long time.
• •Feeling hopeless is exhausting in itself.
• •Even being here today, feeling this way, shows strength.

When Clients Are Angry

• •You have every right to feel angry about that.
• •That situation sounds really unfair.
• •Being treated that way would make anyone frustrated.
• •Your anger is telling you something important.
• •It sounds like you've been holding a lot in.

When Clients Feel Ashamed or Guilty

• •You're being really hard on yourself.
• •Many people would have done the same thing in your position.
• •It takes courage to acknowledge when we've fallen short.
• •Shame can make us feel alone, but you're not alone in this.
• •The fact that you care about this says something good about you.

When Clients Are Overwhelmed

• •There's a lot on your plate right now.
• •Anyone would feel overwhelmed in your situation.
• •It's hard to think clearly when everything feels urgent.
• •Sometimes we need to just pause before we can figure out the next step.
• •You don't have to solve all of this today.

When Clients Make Progress

• •That took real courage.
• •You should feel proud of yourself for that.
• •A month ago, that would have felt impossible—and you just did it.
• •The work you've been doing is showing up.
• •That's a bigger deal than you might be giving yourself credit for.

When Clients Are Ambivalent

• •Part of you wants this, and part of you doesn't—that's normal.
• •Change is complicated. It makes sense to have mixed feelings.
• •You can want something and also be scared of it at the same time.
• •Ambivalence often shows up when something really matters.
• •You don't have to be 100% ready to take a step forward.

When Clients Are Self-Critical

• •You're speaking to yourself in a way you'd never speak to a friend.
• •That's a harsh voice. Whose voice is that, originally?
• •What if the "failure" you're describing is actually just being human?
• •Your standards for yourself are really high.
• •You've been carrying this self-criticism for a long time.

Tips for Using Empathy Statements Effectively

1. Use them as openings, not closings. An empathy statement should invite more sharing, not shut the conversation down. 2. Match the intensity. If someone is deeply upset, "That sounds hard" might feel dismissive. "That sounds devastating" might be more accurate. 3. Follow with silence. After offering an empathy statement, pause. Let them feel the impact before you move on. 4. Make them specific. "It sounds frustrating" is okay. "It sounds frustrating to work this hard and not see results" is better. 5. Watch for misses. If your empathy statement doesn't land—if the client corrects you or seems put off—take it as information and adjust.

The Practice Gap

Reading these 50 statements is a great start. But the real skill is knowing which one to use, when to use it, and how to deliver it naturally.

That comes from practice—saying these phrases out loud, in context, until they become second nature.