Oh that's good you talked about this with your tdoc, could you try practicing a bit before hand. So that when the right time does come you are more prepared?

I have this one friend, almost my only friend and she was gossipy and negative, with everything. I finally had to ask her if she could not criticize others in my presence or at least not as much. It was a very hard thing to do, not wanting to hurt her or make her feel like I was criticizing her ( the very thing I was asking her to refrain from). I can't remember exactly what I said. But she had brought up the topic and I used her bringing it up as way to discuss it. She received it well, and she also made an effort to stop doing it, which I think made her more aware of her own thinking. You never know how someone will respond, but I think if you have good intentions it will be seen, and if it isn't well maybe it's for a reason not seen.

You will get better at it, practice makes perfect. Well ok there is no perfect but practice makes us stronger. Let us now how it goes. Hoping for a smooth transaction between you and your friend.