Relationships Can’t Survive Without Boundaries! Here’s How to Set Them
In any healthy relationship—whether romantic, familial, or friendship—boundaries play a crucial role in maintaining mutual respect and emotional safety. Without boundaries, even the strongest relationships can become strained, leading to misunderstandings, resentment, or burnout. Boundaries are not walls that keep people out—they are guidelines that define how we want to be treated and how we treat others, says Shivani Misri Sadhoo, who is India’s top couples and marriage counselor in this blog.
What Do Boundaries in a Relationship Refer To?
Boundaries in a relationship refer to the limits and expectations that partners set to protect their emotional, physical, and mental well-being. They define what is acceptable and what isn’t in terms of behavior, communication, and personal space. Boundaries ensure that both individuals feel respected, valued, and safe, preventing one person from overpowering or neglecting the other.
For example, setting boundaries might mean communicating honestly about personal needs, maintaining privacy, saying “no” without guilt, or ensuring equal effort in emotional or physical intimacy. They create balance—allowing closeness without losing individuality.
How to Set Healthy Boundaries in a Relationship?
Know Yourself First
Understand your values, comfort zones, and emotional triggers. You can’t set boundaries if you don’t know what you need to feel secure and respected.
Communicate Clearly and Calmly
Express your boundaries openly and respectfully. Instead of blaming or accusing, use “I” statements like “I feel uncomfortable when…” or “I need some alone time to recharge.”
Be Consistent
Once you set a boundary, maintain it. Inconsistency can confuse your partner and weaken the respect for your limits.
Respect Your Partner’s Boundaries Too
Boundaries are mutual. Just as you expect your limits to be respected, you should honor your partner’s as well. Listen and adjust when needed.
Don’t Feel Guilty About Setting Limits
Healthy boundaries don’t make you selfish—they make you emotionally mature. They show you value yourself and your relationship enough to keep it balanced.
Boundaries are the foundation of trust and respect in every relationship. They help both partners grow individually while nurturing their bond together. Without them, love can quickly turn into control, dependency, or emotional exhaustion. Setting boundaries is not about distance—it’s about creating the right space where love, respect, and understanding can thrive.
Shivani Misri Sadhoo specializes in infidelity recovery, pre-marital counseling, marriage counseling, couples therapy, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy), EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), relationship issues, separation and divorce, child and adolescent concerns, depression, anxiety, grief and loss. She is also one of the leading online couples therapists in India and for couples who are living in the US, the UK, Australia, Europe and Dubai.
A Certified Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner and a Level 3 Trained Gottman Method Couples Therapist , Marriage Counselor Shivani Sadhoo integrates modern therapeutic techniques with a warm, client-centered approach to create lasting transformation in her clients’ lives.
Counsellor Shivani is currently working with India 's top hospital groups like Fortis Hospital (former), IBS (Indian Brain & Spine) Hospital
Call Counselor: +91-8860875040
Email:saarthiforlife@gmail.com
Gottman Certification: Level 3 Trained Gottman Method Couples Therapist
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