Counseling is a balance between validation vs challenge

One of the key aims of counseling is to defuse/change something in the “feeling mind” that is creating a maladaptive problem for the person in front of us.

The trouble is, the “feeling mind” doesn’t like change and often resist change.

So we start with acknowledging and validating it. But the trap is, we can over validate it too, and nothing may change quick enough. It may get worse even.

I wonder if you can relate.

It’s often a balance between validation vs challenge in a vulnerable but safe, honest, compassionate and authentic space isn’t it?