Unconditional Positive Regard – what’s it got to do with us?

Blog by Your Voice Counts Head of Advocacy Sharon de Jesús

April is Stress Awareness Month, and this year the theme is Lead with Love.  The Stress Management Society’s new Purple Paper focuses on Unconditional Positive Regard (UPR) – the idea of accepting and valuing others without judgement. UPR is about meeting people without judgement. Not because they’ve earned it or ticked certain boxes but because that’s the kind of foundation people need to feel safe, seen, and heard. Sound familiar?

At YVC, this is the bread and butter of what we do:

• Meeting people where they are

• Supporting without judgment

• Spotting their strengths, even when they can’t see them themselves

But the paper also reminds us: this mindset shouldn’t stop at client facing work. It belongs in our teams and within ourselves too. UPR is just as important in how we speak to each other, and how we treat ourselves on difficult days. A good reminder that leading with kindness and curiosity builds trust, safety, and resilience in every direction.

So, what does it look like in practice?

Here are a few small ideas from the Purple Paper: 

• Pause before judging – whether it’s a client, colleague, or yourself. Ask “what might be going on here?” instead of jumping to conclusions.

• Spot the strengths – especially when someone is struggling. What’s holding them together? What have they managed to do, even if it’s small?

• Listen to understand, not to fix – especially when someone just needs space to talk.

• Extend the same kindness to yourself – we often talk about compassion for others but forget that we need the same.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about trying to show up in a way that reflects what we stand for at Your Voice Counts - and as people who believe in the power of empathy, voice, and respect. We hope that our services lead with this, and that our culture supports it too.

If you’re curious, you can check out the paper here.