Validation Therapy Continued

Ten Principles of Validation

The following principles are the basis for Validation Therapy as developed by Naomi Feil and listed in the Validation Training Institute website:

www.vfvalidation.org/whatis.

Jan Allen, CSW, MSE gives more information about Validation Therapy along with some interesting examples of conversations with disoriented patients n her website/blog:

www.ec-online.net/community/Activist/difficultbehaviors

1. All people are unique and should be treated as individuals.
2. All people are valuable, no matter how disoriented they are.
3. There is a reason behind the behavior of disoriented old people.
4. Behavior in old age is not only a function of changes in the brain, but reflects physical, social and psychological changes that take place during the whole lifespan.
5. Behaviors of older people can be changed only if the person wants to change them.
6. Old people should be accepted non-judgmentally.
7. Each stage of life has particular life tasks to be completed.  Failure to complete these tasks may lead to psychological problems.
8. When recent memory fails, older adults restore balance to their lives by retrieving memories from the past.
9. Painful feelings that are expressed, acknowledged and validated by a trusted listener will diminish.  Painful feelings that are ignored will gain strength.
10. Empathy builds trust, reduces anxiety and restores dignity.