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From DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition  by Marsha M. Linehan. Copyright 2015 by Marsha M. Linehan. Permission 
to photocopy this handout is granted to purchasers of this book for personal use only (see copyright page for details).interpersonal effectiveness Handout 17   (I. E. Worksheet 12)
validation
valiD aTion mean S:
••Finding the kernel of truth in another person’s perspective or situation; verifying the facts of 
a situation.
••Acknowledging that a person’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors have causes and are therefore understandable.
••Not necessarily agreeing with the other person.
••Not validating what is actually invalid.
Why v aliDaTe?
••It improves our relationships by showing we are listening and understand.
••It improves interpersonal effectiveness by reducing:
1. Pressure to prove who is right
2. Negative reactivity
3. Anger
••It makes problem solving, closeness, and support possible.
••Invalidation hurts.
impor TanT Thin GS T o valiDaTe
••The valid (and only  the valid).
••The facts of a situation.
••A person’s experiences, feelings/emotions, beliefs, opinions, or thoughts about something.
••Suffering and difficulties.
remem Ber:
••Every invalid response makes sense in some way.
••Validation is not necessarily agreeing.
••Validation doesn’t mean you like it.
••Only validate the valid!
Note.  Adapted from Linehan, M. M. (1997). Validation and psychotherapy. In A. Bohart & L. Greenberg (Eds.), Empathy reconsidered: New