The Power of Validation

Consider the last time you vented frustrations to a friend, family member, or significant other. How did they react? Did they say things like, “Give it time, and it will seem insignificant,” or “It’s not that big of a deal”? If so, how did that make you feel in return? Not exactly the greatest, right? Now think about if they had answered in a way that confirmed those unpleasant emotions. “That must feel disappointing. I would be upset too,” or “Wow, I don’t blame you for feeling the way you do”. It is just as important to validate our unpleasant emotions as the positive ones. That’s why today, we want to dive into the concept of validation and how powerful and liberating it can be.

What is Validation?

In the “therapy” world, validation is the process of others confirming the validity of emotions. But what does that mean? Is that something we should care about? In short, yes. We all should care about validation as it’s a way to communicate acceptance internally and externally. It isn’t a synonym for approval or agreeing, however. Rather a means of letting others know your value the relationship even during disagreements.

Essentially, validation communicates understanding. And there are times when all we need is to feel understood. It encapsulates thoughts, feelings, sensations, and even behavior. But learning how to use it effectively can take some time and practice.

The Six Levels of Validation

Marsha Linehan, Ph.D. is an author and psychologist who has identified six levels of validation:

One. Being Present

Embrace the moment and avoid the temptation to multitask. Utilize tactile measures like holding someone’s hand or asking if they need a hug. Listen actively and fully as a means to understand the issue at hand fully. Sometimes simply being there for the person, with complete sincerity and attention without judgment, is needed.

Two. Accurate Reflection

Think of this as an accurate summary of the issue. Depending on the scenario, you can achieve this level for your need or help validate another. This level is, again, done without judgment. And it can help a person separate their thoughts from emotions.

Three. Mindreading

No, you can’t actually read another person’s mind. But if you are fully engaged and present, more likely than not, you can hypothesize what another person could be thinking or feeling. This level can be difficult as some of us have difficulty understanding our feelings. It can be easy to confuse excitement and happiness or even excitement and anxiety. Or, you or the person you are trying to validate may be extremely good at masking their feelings as a defense mechanism. The best way to mindread is to notice emotions when the situation is described. Then you can guess what emotions you or they may be feeling. The best part is that if you guess wrong, the person can jump in and correct you, which is validating.

Four. Understanding Behavior

This level utilizes a person’s history and biology as a means to understand current behavior. Your life experiences and genetic makeup influence the way you react in situations throughout your life. If a friend was dumped and humiliated at the movies a few years ago, there’s a chance they still have an aversion to that activity. Validation in this sense could be something like, “I know you went through a hard time in that setting, I totally understand why you wouldn’t want to do this activity with me.”

Five. Normalizing Emotional Reaction

Whether we like it or not, we all have emotions, and we all feel things. And as a culture, we have slowly started to accept this. The more we come to both recognize and normalize this basic human truth, the more everyone can express themselves genuinely. Due to societal views, many of us can feel weak and less than if we show too much emotion in any situation. But validating the emotion can help us cope and overcome it as needed.

Six. Radical Genuineness

Yes, we know this term sounds a little out there. Radical genuineness is understanding an emotion on a deep level. This can occur when you have been through a similar experience. Radical genuineness is sharing that experience to make the other feel less alone. It’s a way of showing emotional equality that can help put the sufferer at ease.

How to Practice Validation

Sure, it’s easy to break validation down into an understandable manner. But actually, putting in the work to practice this important skill can feel rather difficult. However, just like anything else, the more you practice something, the better you get at it and the more natural it feels.

We can do things such as encouraging others through more explanative word choice. Instead of just saying, “Good job,” when your kids do their chores, try something like, “it makes me so proud and happy when you help out around the house because I see you becoming more and more responsible.” Not only does this encourage the child to continue doing a good job, but it also helps them cultivate their self-respect.

Finally, we can practice building our confidence and trust in ourselves through self-validation. This can be practiced by verbalizing any of the following:

• I can do this
• Everything will be okay and as it needs to be
• I’m doing my best and know I make mistakes but I am still a good person
• I am worth the love others are giving me, even if I can’t always accept it

The Power of Validation with CPA

Validation is a wonderful tool. It can help give you the power to help heal and understand your emotions. It’s a way that helps connect you to others in ways that lead to stronger connections. If you could use some help in this area, Cristina Panaccione and Associates has locations in the South Hills and Robinson Township. We currently accept a limited number of new patients, so check out our service areas to learn more about how we can help you learn the skills to cope with whatever emotion you may be feeling!

* The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated this information. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please contact a medical professional for advice.

—