Navigating Healthy Relationships
What is a healthy relationship with a partner?
Healthy relationships allow partners to feel supported and connected but still feel supported and connected but still feel independent and comfortable. Ongoing communication and boundaries are essential. If something doesn’t feel right, tell your partner.
Communication allows you and your partner to have an understanding of each other, and allows you to connect. In a healthy relationship with good communication, both partners treat each other with respect, speak up about thoughts and feelings, feel heard from your partner, feel supported to make decisions.
What are Boundaries?
Each person should express to their partner what they are and are not comfortable with
In a healthy relationship with boundaries, both partners:
- Spend time with friends and family outside of the relationship
- Trust each other
- Do not pressure the other to do things they don’t want to do
- Do not make false accusations
Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship
- Your friend is degraded by their partner
- Is constantly worried that their partner will be angry
- Has unexplained marks or injuries
- Stops spending time with friends and family
- Is depressed or anxious, or has changes in mood
- Their partner is extremely jealous or possessive
Ways to Support Your Friend in an Unhealthy Relationship
- Support them to make their own decisions and listen non-judgmentally
- Encourage communication with family and friends
- Develop a safety plan with strategies to remain safe and emotionally stable
- Help them seek guidance from a loved one, doctor, counselor, or friend.