Ex-T used to say "tissues are right over there" and point to them. They were always out of reach and I was afraid to move.
Current T always has the tissues on the coffee table between us, so they are visible and reachable. Often as soon as she sees water starting to well up she reaches to the shelf underneath and pops them on top of the table. Then asks what the tears are about.
Once, I was crying uncontrollably and she had to tell me to breathe and get me to calm down. All with her voice. It worked.