217 — The Science of Validation: The Secret Ingredient Your Relationships Need with Dr. Caroline Fleck

Do you feel heard when you talk to people? Have you struggled to connect deeply with others in challenging moments? Validation could help you build trust, strengthen your relationships, and prevent miscommunications. But validation is often misunderstood. You don't have to agree with someone to validate them. No one knows this better than Dr. Caroline Fleck, a clinical psychologist and validation expert. In this episode, we discuss how the power of validation can strengthen connections and foster mental strength. Some of the things we discuss are: How validation is different from praise. Why validation is just as important as love and compassion in relationships. How validation can de-escalate conflicts and strengthen communication. Simple skills like mirroring emotions and the “mindfulness, understanding, and empathy” framework. The role of validation in self-compassion and mental strength. The exact steps you can take to ensure someone feels heard and understood. What happens when people don't feel validated. What you can do if you aren't feeling validated by other people. Want more tips for building mental strength? Subscribe to ⁠⁠Mentally Stronger Premium⁠⁠ and get weekly AMA episodes and monthly bonuses to help you grow mentally stronger! Links & Resources Follow Dr. Fleck on Instagram - @CarolineFleckphd DrCarolineFleck.com Validation Connect with the Show Buy Amy's ⁠⁠⁠books on mental strength⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Amy on Instagram — ⁠⁠⁠@AmyMorinAuthor⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠AmyMorinLCSW.com ⁠⁠ Sponsors Quince - Get free shipping and 365-day returns at ⁠⁠Quince.com/stronger⁠ OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.oneskin.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #oneskinpod Calm — Get 40% off a Calm Premium Subscription at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠calm.com/STRONGER⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AirDoctor — Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AirDoctorPro.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shopify.com/mentallystronger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ZocDoc — Go to ⁠Zocdoc.com/STRONGER⁠ to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today! Mentally Strong — Sign up for your free 7-day trial at ⁠MentallyStrong.Downpait.Ai⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices