Update: January 2025

Articles, Worksheets, and Downloads:

15 Types of Healthy Boundaries and How to Communicate Them: This article explains many kinds of boundaries, both that could be useful at work and for personal relationships. Additionally, this web page offers examples of phrasing that might be used to introduce a boundary into a conversation. https://mindfulcenter.org/15-types-of-healthy-boundaries-and-how-to-communicate-them

Boundaries Fact Sheet presented by NAMI: This flyer provides a brief general definition and overview for boundaries and how to set them. https://www.nami.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Boundaries.pdf

Compassionate Boundaries: How to say No with Heart: This succinct article explores five steps to creating compassionate boundaries in a way that considers all parties with kindness. https://www.mindful.org/compassionate-boundaries-say-no-heart/

8 Tips on Setting Boundaries for Your Mental Health: This concise article presents eight suggestions to help you establish guidelines for how you’d like to be treated by people or within certain situations. If you’re interested in further learning, you are welcome to check out the 62-page “Building Better Boundaries” curriculum put together by the Self-Help Alliance that is available for free at the bottom of the page. https://www.dbsalliance.org/support/young-adults/8-tips-on-setting-boundaries-for-your-mental-health/#:~:text=Be direct%2C clear%2C and simple,if you like%2C as well

How to Set Healthy Boundaries & Build Positive Relationships. The document provides an overview of how to set healthy boundaries in the workplace and in personal relationships. It offers 8 tips for establishing healthy boundaries at work, including assessing personal boundaries, communicating directly, creating clear work structures, keeping professional relationships, delegating work, learning to say no, taking time off, and using technology to set and maintain boundaries. It also discusses the importance of boundaries in psychology and therapy. It recommends and includes some worksheets and exercises to help define and set personal boundaries. https://positivepsychology.com/great-self-care-setting-healthy-boundaries/

A Menu For Improving Personal Boundaries – Supportiv. Boundaries aren’t just about reacting to others. The concept also includes how you reach out to and connect with others. Use this menu to work on all kinds of personal boundaries. Soften or firm up your defenses as necessary, in order to connect better. https://www.supportiv.com/worksheets/menu-for-improving-personal-boundaries

Boundaries Exploration Worksheet | PsychPoint. This worksheet serves as a guide to explore and understand the boundaries they need to maintain self-health and healthy relationships. It also helps understand personal space, and one needs from others to feel respected. https://www.psychpoint.com/worksheets/boundaries-exploration

What are Boundaries? worksheet | Therapist Aid. This What are Boundaries? worksheet offers an accessible overview of boundaries and how they impact well-being. Topics include: Understanding what makes boundaries healthy or unhealthy, Tailoring boundaries to specific situations, Distinguishing between six types of boundaries. It is helpful to understand the basic concept, explore what ones boundaries look like and identify any areas in need of improvement. This is helpful both for those who struggle to set limits in their relationships and those who have trouble opening themselves to new experiences. https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/boundaries-psychoeducation-printout

Setting Boundaries: Info and Practice worksheet | Therapist Aid. The Setting Boundaries worksheet will help teach one to set healthy boundaries by covering language for speaking assertively, boundary-setting tips, examples, and practice exercises. https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/setting-boundaries

59 phrases to help you set boundaries | PR Daily. Ways to politely and firmly say no. https://www.prdaily.com/59-phrases-to-help-you-set-boundaries/

People-Pleasing Vs. Boundary-Setting: Stay On Track For Success By Defending Your Needs | Forbes. People-pleasing can provide short-term benefits, but it can lead to neglect of one’s own needs and goals, and setting boundaries is crucial for healthy relationships and personal development. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbescoachescouncil/2020/10/13/people-pleasing-vs-boundary-setting-stay-on-track-for-success-by-defending-your-needs/

Why Boundary Setting Should Start With You | TheMighty. Knowing how to say “Don’t treat me like this,” in whatever framing of words is so crucial for healing and growth. https://themighty.com/topic/mental-health/taking-personal-responsibility-with-boundary-setting/

Controversial Photo Series Explores The Lack Of Boundaries Women Feel In Everyday Life | GOOD. The photos depict what it feels like for the average young female professional engaging in daily activities like going to yoga or being at work. https://www.good.is/Culture/photo-series-boundaries-rp

Setting Boundaries Says ‘I Am Worthy’ to My Childhood Trauma | TheMighty. The whole point of healing from trauma is to learn how to be in close and trusting relationships with others while also learning how to nurture yourself. https://themighty.com/topic/trauma/childhood-trauma-set-boundaries-worthy/

Why I Choose Boundaries Over Forgiveness | TheMighty. The author shares five reasons why they chose boundaries over forgiveness in their relationships and how that set them free. https://themighty.com/topic/mental-health/boundaries-over-forgiveness-trauma/

Your Relationship Can’t Survive Without Boundaries—Here’s How to Set Them | VeryWellMind. This article defines boundaries, why they are important, types and signs, and provides tips on setting healthy boundaries in a variety of types of relationships. https://www.verywellmind.com/boundaries-in-a-relationship-8727891

The No BS Guide to Protecting Your Emotional Space | Healthline. This article is designed to teach you to be a boundary setting boss and includes the benefits of boundaries. It also discusses recognizing and honoring other people’s boundaries. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/set-boundaries

What are my boundaries? | love is respect. Boundaries help you define what you are comfortable with and how you would like to be treated by others. They apply to any kind of relationship you have – whether with a friend, family member, partner or anyone else in your life. Article includes discussion of differences between healthy and unhealthy boundaries. https://www.loveisrespect.org/resources/what-are-my-boundaries/

Dr. Henry Cloud Boundaries blog. Henry Cloud is an American Christian self-help author, who wrote Boundaries, Trust, How to Have That Difficult Conversation, The One-life Solution, Necessary Endings, and The Power of the Other, among other titles. https://www.boundaries.me/blog

6 Types of Boundaries & Questions to Explore Them | Urban Wellness. Note that a DEI notice is covering nearly half of the screen at the time of inclusion. Using the reading mode in browser or Readable Mode located in bottom left corner accessibility options on the site made article were needed to bypass the message. https://urbanwellnesscounseling.com/6-types-of-boundaries/

Managing Your Boundaries | MindTools.com. Article includes video with transcript, and discusses the 4 stages of managing boundaries. https://www.mindtools.com/anenol6/managing-your-boundaries

The 6 Types Of Healthy Boundaries & How To Maintain Them | MindBodyGreen. Clear boundaries are kind. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/six-types-of-boundaries-and-what-healthy-boundaries-look-like-for-each

How to Set Healthy Boundaries, With Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab | Lifehacker. This 42 minute podcast episode with notes and transcript is about learning how to recognize and enforce boundaries. https://lifehacker.com/how-to-set-healthy-boundaries-with-therapist-nedra-glo-1846575296

3 Kind, Simple & Effective Ways to Communicate Your Boundaries | Headway via Medium. Written by a Behavioral Health Coach with Ginger discusses starting small, preparing for pushback and being consistent and compassionate. https://headway.ginger.io/3-kind-simple-effective-ways-to-communicate-your-boundaries-46dad0989e79

10 Ways to Build and Preserve Better Boundaries I Psych Central. Includes a 20 minute podcast. https://psychcentral.com/lib/10-way-to-build-and-preserve-better-boundaries#others-boundaries

How to Set Healthy Boundaries With Anyone | VeryWellHealth. A guide to setting limits with parents, partners, friends, and co-workers. Includes exercises. https://www.verywellhealth.com/setting-boundaries-5208802

Defining Your Boundaries | Youniverse. Your boundaries are essentially an expression of your core values. https://www.youniversetherapy.com/post/defining-your-boundaries

What Are Boundaries and Why Do I Need Them? | Live Well with Sharon Martin. What are boundaries? Why do we need them? And how do we set them? Find out in this article. https://www.livewellwithsharonmartin.com/what-are-boundaries/

Setting Boundaries: A Simple Guide | Halo. Having boundaries is an important self care, but it can be hard to put into practice. Here’s how to get started. https://halo.app/articles/lifestyle/setting-boundaries-a-simple-guide

What are Personal Boundaries? | UHS Berkeley. This one page PDF defines Personal Boundaries including explaining rigid, porous and healthy boundaries. https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/relationships_personal_boundaries.pdf

Videos

5 Ways to Teach People How to Treat us Properly! This YouTube video created by therapist Kati Morton summarizes five steps you can take to help people treat you better and how to maintain boundaries once you’ve set them. **https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhW4g9urdXQ**

Your 3-Step Guide to Setting Better Boundaries at Work: This YouTube video created by therapist and author Nedra Glover Tawwab in collaboration with TED Talks, gives guidance about how to set clear limits at work or in professional settings. **https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SCrXqbhmCY**

Why People are NOT respecting YOUR boundaries: This YouTube video created by therapist Kati Morton gives insight on the difficulty of boundary setting, context for why people may not be respecting boundaries once we set them, and how to build this skill in a healthy fashion. **https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZG__nXas-w**