Validation
When you want to go deeper than basic acknowledgment. It’s one of the DBT interpersonal effectiveness skills, and the skills picker can route a client here in the moment.
Not sure this is the right skill?
The free DBT skills picker asks what’s happening right now and routes to a skill to try.
Open the skills pickerWhen to reach for Validation
When you want to go deeper than basic acknowledgment.
How to practice Validation
- Pay attention. Look at them. Phone away.
- Reflect accurately what you heard.
- Read between the lines — what aren't they saying?
- Validate based on history: "Given what you've been through, this fits."
- Validate based on present + treat as equal: "Given what's happening, it makes sense — you're not fragile, you're responding."
Tracking Validation on a diary card
Whether a client used Validation — and whether it helped — is exactly what a DBT diary card captures. Recording skill use day by day is how you see, in session, whether interpersonal effectiveness skills are generalizing.
Track skill use for free
Build a custom diary card that tracks the skills you’re working on, or track it digitally in Theracharts.
Build a diary cardAll DBT skillsFAQ
What is Validation in DBT?
Validation is a DBT interpersonal effectiveness skill. When you want to go deeper than basic acknowledgment.
When should I use Validation?
Reach for validation when you want to go deeper than basic acknowledgment.
In crisis? Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US) — free, confidential, 24/7. This page is educational and is not therapy, diagnosis, or a substitute for professional care.