Sounds like your player has the same problem I do.
You may want to have some NPC look completely non-threatening, at least in the normal sense.
Point something out that makes them approach the NPC, instead of the other way around. If they don't bite, have them show up later by happenstance without resolving the hook from earlier to make them ask about it.
They must think of some things as approachable at least. As a last resort, use simple farmers/merchants walking down the road who are actually simple farmers/merchants.
perhaps the fights end too much in death, let those ruffians sunder the best equipment, then they drop their weapon and say "alrigh, you got us, now bring us to the guardhouse. By the way we're broke and can't pay you back".
Or just let them run away to the nearest guard and say "that adventurer group there drew their swords on us".