How to Listen, Hear, and Validate

Remember, when we provide validation, we are communicating that someone’s experience, and they themselves, are inherently valid. So, we can use phrases like:

“It’s understandable you’d feel that way.”
“Yes, that makes sense. I can see why you say that.”
“It’s perfectly normal that you think that.”
“I’m sorry that you’re having a hard time with this.”
“Can you tell me more about how you’re feeling?”