Validation

2:53

Companion Slides

Three levels of validation and the 'AND instead of BUT' technique.

Key Concepts

  • Level 1: Acknowledging ('I hear you')
  • Level 2: Normalizing ('Many people feel this way')
  • Level 3: Affirming the logic ('Of course you feel that — given what happened')
  • 'AND instead of BUT' — validation without dismissal
  • Validation is not agreement — it's recognition

Part of

Module 4: Practical Skills

Listening, validation, co-regulation, de-escalation, disclosure, boundaries, and putting it all together.