Hi Holly,

It sounds to me like what you're doing is exactly what you need to do. Just sit and listen. That's ALL you can do. You can't fix anthing for him. You can't make it better for him by "doing" something to help make him feel better. Don't give him advice unless he asks for it, and even then, be very careful in how you do that. Sometimes the person that's attempting to share advice ends up being a lightning rod for pent-up anger, frustration and other strong emotions that are seeking an outlet...
It's difficult to just sit and listen and not actively DO something to fix it and make it better! All you can do is to show your support by just being there, listening and showing compassion for what he's going through. What he's going through is something he needs to work out in his own mind. There are no easy fixes or shortcuts for that. It takes time and patience on your part... and resisting the urge to attempt to "fix" things to make him stop hurting.

Dan