Question

Reality orientation vs Validation therapy

A resident keeps calling you by his daughter's name (different approaches based on technique)

Answer 1

Reality orientation corrects and orients patients to their actual circumstances, while validation therapy accepts and engages within the patient's perceived reality.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of a resident mistakenly calling someone by his daughter's name, reality orientation is a therapeutic approach focusing on grounding the patient in facts about time, place, and personal identity. This approach would entail correcting the resident gently and reminding them of the actual relationship. Conversely, validation therapy is a technique that acknowledges the resident's feelings and experience, creating a therapeutic presence by accepting the resident's reality rather than challenging it. For example, instead of correcting the resident, the caregiver might explore feelings about the daughter or reminisce about past experiences, thereby validating the resident's feelings and perspective.