A client tells a social worker that she “feels like a failure” because she cannot seem to meet the multiple daily demands of working and parenting. The social worker states that “many people in your situation experience the same feelings.” The technique used by the social worker is known as:

Validation shows empathetic understanding of the client’s problems. It lets the client know that she is not alone and others are experiencing the same feelings or difficulties. By realizing that her belief is one that is shared by those in similar situations, the client feels less isolated and gains strength by the realization that others have worked through the problem(s) that she is experiencing.