You may have known others who have had the same problem as the talker. If so, remember how they acted and felt. This may suggest what the talker is experiencing. Make use of all three sources of insight. Practice giving empathy responses in real-life situations.
Life is filled with opportunities to be empathic.
Try it with all your friends, with new acquaintances, with your lover, with co-workers and supervisors, and it will absolutely flabbergast your parents. Also, don't forget to be empathic with people you dislike or with whom you are having a conflict. Watch out for the barriers to good, active listening. Guard against advising, questioning, analyzing, judging, interrupting, etc. That's another special skill.