Emotional validation is the cornerstone of healthy communication and a key component in any loving relationship. It’s about acknowledging and validating your partner’s feelings without judgement, creating a safe space for emotional connection and vulnerability.
Rather than giving advice or playing devil’s advocate, it’s about identifying and acknowledging the emotions that are being felt (even if you don’t agree with them) by saying things like “You must be feeling really crazy right now,” or “I would feel the same way.” This shows empathy without minimizing or dismissing the intensity of their emotion and helps them know that they are heard and understood.
Invalidation in relationships is one of the worst things you can do. It makes your partner feel like a) you don’t understand their feelings or b) that if you do, you don’t care about them. This often leads to a backlash of either hostility or emotional shut down and neither of those is good for the relationship.
Luckily, learning how to validate your partner’s feelings is a skill that can be learned. And while it may take some practice, when used well, it can open the door to a more honest and supportive relationship. To learn more about how to emotionally validate your partner, check out our article on the topic. And if you’re looking to get better at this yourself, consider signing up for dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This talk therapy can help you become more effective with your communication and increase the intimacy in your relationship! Emotional validation in relationships