A Guide on Validation

What does it mean to validate? 

Validation means to first accept the other person for what they are going through. To accept doesn't mean that you have to approve, it means that you understand that their experience is theirs and to them it is real. 

People all have their own experience and their own perspectives and that's okay. It is important to respect the member's perspective and validate it, not argue with them about whether they're right or wrong. 

You let them know that what they're feeling is okay, or that you understand that it's scary, or tough, or whatever emotion the problem may elicit.  

Validation helps the member know that they can safely share what they need to share and that they feel heard, acknowledged, understood and accepted.

While our desire to help often leads to advice giving, I have found that usually if I just validate someone, they are able to work out their own emotional problems even faster than if I were to give them my advice. On this note, we avoid giving advice because it can be harmful to the person as we do not know their entire situation. Also, sometimes a person comes to us because they just need to feel heard, they don't necessarily need or want advice, and giving said advice can make them feel as though we're not really listening, so validation is the best way to go.

Validation is incredibly important in active listening. I might argue that it's one of the most important skills for us to use as active listeners and I hope this guide to active listening is helpful in helping you understand how to validate our members.

Original post here by @InvaderStitch, send them a thanks!