As far as I can tell, there are also situations where people (usually women) who talk to you about their problems don’t really need or want help with problem-so

As far as I can tell, there are also situations where people (usually women) who talk to you about their problems don’t really need or want help with problem-solving, but would appreciate you showing empathy and solidarity with their situation. For example, my wife cooks a lot and complains about it, but she’s not interested to engage in brainstorming about how to throw money at the problem (which we have the budget to do). So I believe the best thing I can do when she brings it up is to express empathy and appreciation. Being curious so as to “listen better” may be a good technique, but doesn’t seem like the central insight needed to best navigate this scenario.