Mastering the Art of Validation: How to Make People Feel Seen and Understood with Caroline Fleck, PhD

Mastering the Art of Validation: How to Make People Feel Seen and Understood with Caroline Fleck, PhD

Author: Anna Seewald February 20, 2025 Duration: 1:07:05

How good are you at the skill of validation?

What is validation, and what isn't? What are its benefits, and how do you actually validate someone? What do people often misunderstand about this crucial, life-changing skill—and so much more? Should we validate positive or negative feelings? How do we determine what to validate? How can we calibrate our reactions to match someone's distress?

Simply put, validation shows that you are present, you understand, and you care.

Remember, you don't have to get it right all the time. You can always do a "do-over," and perfection isn't necessary.

Get her book: Validation: How the Skill Set That Revolutionized Psychology Will Transform Your Relationships, Increase Your Influence, and Change Your Life

New to the podcast? Not sure where to start? Download our free TRAUMA KIT — a curated guide with live links to 10 powerful, handpicked episodes to get you started.

Explore how trauma shapes your body, brain, nervous system, and relationships — and discover pathways to healing and transformation.

Featuring world-renowned experts like Gabor Maté, Deb Dana, Thema Bryant, Paul Conti, and more.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

 


Anna Seewald hosts Authentic Parenting, a space for those who believe that raising children is deeply intertwined with growing themselves. This podcast moves beyond quick tips and strategies to explore the inner work required to parent with intention. Conversations here are grounded in a trauma-informed perspective, offering a compassionate lens through which to examine family patterns and reactions. The core idea is that by consciously addressing our own histories and connecting with our authentic selves, we can interrupt cycles of generational stress. What you’ll hear in each episode are thoughtful discussions and practical insights aimed at transforming daily challenges into opportunities for connection. The goal isn’t perfection, but fostering a family life with more calm, understanding, and genuine joy. It’s about creating an environment where children can thrive without carrying burdens forward. Tuning into this podcast feels like a supportive dialogue, reminding you that the journey of parenting is also a profound path of personal discovery. It’s for anyone ready to embrace the motto of raising their children while growing themselves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Authentic Parenting
Podcast Episodes
How to Stop Freaking Out-the kids' edition with Carla Naumburg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:35
Join us for LIVE Podcast The Art of Communication in Relationships: Navigating Needs, Feelings, and Deeper Connection on October 5, 2024, in Princeton, New Jersey with featured guest Yvette Erasmus. Head over to authenti…
RE-RELEASE: How To Be a Happier Parent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:16
Join us for LIVE Podcast The Art of Communication in Relationships: Navigating Needs, Feelings, and Deeper Connection on October 5, 2024, in Princeton, New Jersey with featured guest Yvette Erasmus. Head over to authenti…
RE-RELEASE: When Your Needs Are Not Met with Yvette Erasmus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:15
We're hosting another live event this year—our second one! If you missed the first event in April, you have another chance to join us. The LIVE Podcast returns on October 5, 2024, in Princeton, New Jersey. I'm excited to…
RE-RELEASE: Uncovering Your Core Values [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:30
Why your values matter and how can you uncover them. Through thoughtful questions and exercises we help you discover your own core values. Grab a pen and notebook. Discovering what your core values are can increase your…
Live Podcast Announcement! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:23
We're hosting another live event this year—our second one! If you missed the first event in April, you have another chance to join us. The LIVE Podcast returns on October 5, 2024, in Princeton, New Jersey. I'm excited to…
How to Navigate Social Media Safely with Your Kids with Imran Ahmed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:17
Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate US/UK on the harms of social media and what could be done. As an authority on social and psychological malignancies on social media, such as identity…