In the early 1980’s Marsha Linehan, PhD, developed a breakthrough treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and other psychological difficulties. She called it Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
A key component in DBT is a set of social skills that help people with BPD manage the emotional challenges they face every day. One skill in particular is designed to foster better and healthier communications between a person with BPD and other important people in their lives, including family members, friends and colleagues. It’s known as validation, a concept that is at once simple and complex.
Sonia Neale is a registered Counsellor/Psychotherapist who practices in Aveley, Australia and works with clients who have BPD. Her clinical work is informed by her own lived experience with BPD.
In addition to providing therapy to her clients, Sonia also lectures, conducts training and has written extensively about Borderline Personality Disorder, including a blog.
The topic of a recent post is about the impact both validation and invalidation can have on the emotional experiences in the lives of people with BPD. In the blog, she describes the practice and the power of validation in clear and concise language.
If you find the concept of validation confusing, you likely will appreciate Sonia’s take on it. The posting can be found on her website
