I disagree... A person needs to feel they are in good hands often before they open up about something private and painful. I was taught to sometime just keep silent and let people talk out their problems be a good listener a bit so they do feel they are in good hands before one starts spouting out inane insensitive jokes.
Job in the bible cursed his appeasers and they all seemed to take a different approach to trying to help him ease his burden. I am not really sure why. It was as if they all had a motive for sucking off his bad luck. Ultimately they all seamed to make him feel even worse. I am not saying people here have made me feel worse either, though in some cases indifferent.