A few words can go a long way in helping someone feel understood. Say something as simple as “I hear you” or “That must seem really hard,” and you’re likely to provide more emotional support to that individual than you realize.

Tell yourself that you recognize an inner experience, and you can likewise benefit internally. It’s a concept called validation, and it involves the acknowledgement and acceptance of thoughts and feelings in their current context.

So how can we learn to validate our ourselves and others? What sets validation apart from reassurance? And what is the technique’s connection to dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)?