What is validation? A quick google search will describe it as such:
"the action of checking or proving the validity or accuracy of something, the action of making or declaring something legally or officially acceptable, and the recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile."
That last point has been a hot topic in the mental health community as of late.
As people begin to use the term "gaslighting" more often, it is becoming more and more important to look at the role of validation in our relationships. In all honestly, the concept is quite simple (and the google definition summarizes it quite nicely), but the real question people seem to be struggling with is "what is gaslighting?".
This is also simple. Gaslighting is the denial, disregard, or devaluation of another person's expressed feelings, opinions, or recollection about their own life experiences (like health concerns, emotional responses, or memories).
Remember: "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care".
Jenna Hill
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