Dialectical Behaviour Therapy•For Parents

Validation Skills Guide for Parents

Teaching parents the basics of validation to support their young person.

Validation means communicating that someone's feelings make sense. It's one of the most powerful things parents can do.

Why validation matters

When someone is distressed and we jump to problem-solving or minimising, they often escalate. Validation calms the emotional brain. It doesn't mean agreeing — it means acknowledging their experience.

Six levels of validation

Pay attention — Be present
Reflect back — "It sounds like you're frustrated"
Read minds (carefully) — "I imagine that was scary"
Validate based on history — "Given what happened before, that makes sense"
Validate based on the present — "Anyone would feel that way"
Radical genuineness — Treat them as capable