There’s an oft-cited trope that therapists shouldn’t give advice. At least, it’s oft-cited in the world of therapists and their clients, especially serial clients. While there’s some degree of wisdom in this to be sure, it’s far too opaque a statement. What constitutes advice and what is considered giving it? Are there really no circumstances under which it might be a good idea to prod someone in a given direction?

Recap: Shoshana Rosa ran to find Penina to apologize for the way her friend Aviva acted. When she finds Penina’s house, she sees that it’s in a rundown condition. Penina doesn’t invite her in. She can hear yelling from inside. They go for a walk and then they go to visit Shoshana Rosa’s cousin Ilana who is a writer. Ilana shares that she’s working on a story based on a journal she found of her great- great-grandfather. She wants to ask their opinion about something and would love if they would read the journal. So they sit down to read it.