What is the role of validation in Gottman therapy?

• A. Validating partner's feelings reduces defensiveness.
• B. Validating partner's feelings increases defensiveness.
• C. Validation is not used in Gottman therapy.
• D. Validation is only for couples with trust.

Answer: (A)

In Gottman therapy, validation means acknowledging and understanding your partner’s feelings and perspective, even when you might disagree. This approach creates emotional safety by letting the other person know their emotions are legitimate and worth being heard. When someone feels understood, their threat and defensiveness tend to drop, making it easier to discuss problems calmly and move toward repair. Validation isn’t about agreeing with everything they feel; it’s about communicating empathy and recognition of their experience, which opens the door to more constructive communication. That’s why this option is the best choice: validating a partner’s feelings reduces defensiveness. The idea that validation increases defensiveness isn’t supported by practice, and validation is a core tool used in Gottman therapy with couples at all stages, not only those who already have high trust.