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

Caroline Fleck, PhD

Feb 2025 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

"Warning: this book will make you a better parent, partner, colleague, and friend." —Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential

Unlock the secret to true and lasting change.

We all spend a lot of energy trying to get people to listen to us, and despite our best efforts, we often fail. But what if the secret to influencing others was to demonstrate acceptance?

Enter validation—communication where one accepts and sees the validity in another person’s experience. Research on validation shows that it has profound effects, from improving relationships and de-escalating conflicts to increasing one’s influence and self-compassion. In this groundbreaking book, clinical psychologist Caroline Fleck explores how validation’s unique ability to demonstrate acceptance while fostering change makes it one of psychotherapy’s best-kept secrets. More importantly, she takes us step-by-step through eight skills we can use to communicate validation and experience its power firsthand.

Full of captivating stories, laugh-out-loud moments, and actionable takeaways, Validation reveals how the science of seeing and being seen is the key to inner and interpersonal transformation.

About the author

Caroline Fleck, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, corporate consultant, and Adjunct Clinical Instructor at Stanford University. She received a B.A. in psychology and English from the University of Michigan, followed by an M.A. and PhD from the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke. Caroline has served as a supervisor and consultant for some of the most rigorous clinical training programs in the country. She is a respected voice in psychology and has been featured in national media outlets including The New York Times, Good Morning America, and HuffPost. In her private practice, Caroline works with adults, adolescents, and couples. She specializes in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and other cognitive behavioral treatments for mood, anxiety, and personality disorders. Caroline’s corporate work focuses on strengthening company cultures and individual performance. She implements custom training programs for Fortune 500 companies and provides executive coaching to industry leaders worldwide.