Glossary
Emotional validation
Emotional validation is telling someone their feelings make sense from where they stand, without having to agree with their version of events.
Last updated
Validation isn’t agreement. You can remember the facts differently and still say, “I can see why that hurt.” It treats the feeling as real, which is often what lets your partner stop defending it.
The APA Dictionary of Psychology notes that in some forms of therapy, validation can take the form of mirroring a person’s experience back to them. Between partners it can be as short as “That makes sense” before you give your side.
What it isn’t: rushing to fix it, shrinking it (“it’s not a big deal”) or debating whether the feeling is justified.
Sources
- APA Dictionary of Psychology: validation (checked October 21, 2026)
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