Psychologist shares how learning the skill of validation can transform your relationships

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron

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Do you ever wonder why your child’s big emotions feel so overwhelming—or why small conflicts with your partner can spiral? In this episode, I sit down with psychologist Dr. Caroline Fleck to unpack the skill of validation—what it is, why it matters, and how it can radically change the way you connect with yourself, your kids, and everyone you love.

We explore what invalidation really sounds like (it’s often subtle) and why even well-meaning parents can accidentally shut down their child’s emotions. Dr. Fleck shares simple, powerful scripts for validating feelings without condoning hurtful behaviors, and we discuss research showing how invalidation increases the risk of mental health struggles and gets passed across generations.

Whether you’re parenting a toddler or a teen—or just want more connected relationships—this episode will give you tools to break cycles of invalidation and build deeper trust through emotional clarity.

Don’t miss this conversation—because learning to “validate the valid” might be the most important parenting skill you ever master.

Sources:

Caroline's Book: Validation (amazon.ca and amazon.com)

Science Sources:

Examining the intergenerational transmission of parental invalidation: Extension of the biosocial model

Parental Validation and Invalidation Predict Adolescent Self- Harm

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