ABSTRACT
Validation is about connecting with the unique experience of an individual, whereas normalization is about communicating that other people have the same experience. Normalization can be needed, as seen in the case with Mette, and can also be enormously beneficial. An example of validation, as in the case of Mette, could be to validate that, yes other people share similar experiences, but the exchange between the person with acquired brain injury (ABI), and the professional should also focus on how the experience affects that particular person, not others. With reference to the ABI lens, there is a risk of over-pathologizing normal behavior. For persons with ABI, it can be a great relief to hear that feelings and behaviors are not so abnormal after all, and that actually they are quite common, as many other people also struggle with the exact same things.
