Which of the following is NOT one of the three ways a well-meaning adult might make a distressed youngster feel as if they are not being taken seriously?

• A. Blaming
• B. Dismissing
• C. Predicting
• D. Empathizing

Answer: (D)

Understanding how an adult responds to distress is key to whether a young person feels heard. Blaming shifts responsibility onto the child, making them feel judged and unsupported. Dismissing treats the distress as unimportant or exaggerated, which cuts off their attempt to be taken seriously. Predicting imposes a future outcome or a fixed interpretation on the child’s feelings, effectively talking over their present experience. Empathizing, on the other hand, validates the emotion and shows understanding, signaling that the child’s feelings matter and that you’re there to help. That supportive, validating approach is what keeps a distressed youngster from feeling dismissed, and it’s why empathizing is not one of the dismissive responses.