Validation in DBT: Basics and Purpose
Key Points
- Validation is used to balance change strategies, teach the patient how to validate themselves, maintain the relationship, and reduce emotional dysregulation.
- Validation is not necessarily agreement, approval, or condoning behavior but is a stubborn refusal to treat anyone like they’re bad, crazy, or completely wrong regardless of their behavior.
- What is validating for one person is not necessarily the same for another.
