Abstract
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.