A Single-Session Virtual Validation Intervention for Family Members of Youth Experiencing Emotion Dysregulation

Validation from family members has been found to reduce emotion dysregulation among youth, yet no interventions teach the skill of validation exclusively. This convergent, mixed-methods pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of a single-session virtual validation intervention, as well as its impact on family members' knowledge of validation and perceptions of hope. Thirty-four family members on the waitlist for a Family Connections program in Canada participated in the 2-h intervention. Qualitative feedback supported the feasibility, acceptability and utility of the intervention. Family members highlighted practice exercises and self-validation content as particularly useful. Quantitative analyses indicated a significant increase in applied knowledge of validation and perceptions of hope (p < 0.05). This study offers preliminary evidence that learning validation as a standalone skill may be feasible and helpful for family members of youth experiencing emotion dysregulation and could be a timely way to support those awaiting comprehensive offerings. Further research is needed to explore the role of single-session interventions in family member engagement with long-term programs such as Family Connections.