Emotional validation is about acknowledging, understanding and expressing acceptance of someone’s feelings. It’s a powerful tool that can help defuse conflict and increase intimacy in your relationship. On the other hand, emotional invalidation has been shown to lead to negative consequences including high levels of distress and even mental health problems.
The most important thing to remember when practicing emotional validation is to focus on what the person is feeling rather than their behavior. For example, if they’re talking about a difficult work situation, it’s probably not the time to tell them how their actions weren’t so bad or that they shouldn’t have acted the way they did. This type of response will likely make them feel judged and dismissed, which can be really hurtful and cause them to shut down.
Instead, you could validate their emotions by reflecting back to them what they are saying, which can be a simple as nodding your head or saying “uh huh” to show that you hear them. Or you can rephrase their words in your own words to further demonstrate that you’re on the same page as them.
The key to effective emotional validation is consistency. Practice this skill often and in a variety of situations so that it becomes second nature. And don’t forget to practice self-awareness as well! If you notice that your reactions are getting defensive or dismissive, take a step back and remind yourself that validating others’ feelings is one of the most loving things you can do for them. Emotional validation in relationships