Boundaries & Communication
What is a boundary in a healthy relationship?
A personal limit that protects your emotional, physical, or mental well-being.
Why is trust important in recovery relationships?
It supports honesty, stability, and reduces isolation.
What is emotional regulation?
The ability to identify, manage, and respond to emotions in a healthy way.
What is codependency?
An excessive emotional reliance on another person to feel okay.
Name one communication skill taught in recovery programs to reduce conflict.
“I” statements (e.g., “I feel…” instead of “You always…”).
In Motivational Interviewing, what quality builds trust between counselor and client?
Empathy and reflective listening.
What evidence-based therapy teaches skills for emotion regulation?
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
What is interdependence?
Mutual support and respect while maintaining individuality.
According to CBT, how can thinking errors impact communication?
They distort perception, leading to assumptions, defensiveness, and conflict.
How does accountability support relapse prevention?
It encourages responsibility and openness about struggles before they escalate.
Name one healthy coping strategy for managing anger or sadness.
Deep breathing, journaling, mindfulness, or reaching out to support.
From Attachment Theory, how does secure attachment promote interdependence?
It allows trust, autonomy, and emotional safety in relationships.
Give one example of an unhealthy boundary and one of a healthy boundary.
Unhealthy: saying yes to everything; Healthy: saying no when overwhelmed.
What’s one way to rebuild trust after a relapse or broken promise?
Acknowledging harm, making amends, and showing consistency over time.
How does emotional regulation impact relationship health in recovery?
It prevents reactive behaviors and promotes communication and stability.
Name one behavior change that helps shift from codependent to interdependent patterns.
Setting boundaries, self-reflection, seeking support, or improving self-esteem.