“Families remain dysfunctional when everyone pretends that things are okay.”
{Nedra Glover Tawwab}

Boundary Building in Complex Relationships Workshop was presented by Karen Peters, Registered Clinical Counsellor, at the Aging and Kinship Care Gathering in June 2023.

What complicates relationships?

• Unresolved hurt and old dynamics that stick
• Competing needs
• Working with outside requirements (ex/ legal requirements, agency priorities or limitations, etc.) that don’t align with personal values
• Dual relationship types – wearing more than one hat
• Differing expectations or approaches to relationship and conflict resolution
• A third party’s needs are priority (ex/ a child)
• Inconsistency and/or unreliability
• Addictions, mental health challenges, chronic stress
• Fluctuating roles

“When people set boundaries with you, it’s their attempt to continue the relationship with you. It’s not an attempt to hurt you.” {Elizabeth Earnshaw}

“Families remain dysfunctional when everyone pretends that things are okay.”
{Nedra Glover Tawwab}

Boundary Building in Complex Relationships Workshop was presented by Karen Peters, Registered Clinical Counsellor, at the Aging and Kinship Care Gathering in June 2023.

What complicates relationships?

• Unresolved hurt and old dynamics that stick
• Competing needs
• Working with outside requirements (ex/ legal requirements, agency priorities or limitations, etc.) that don’t align with personal values
• Dual relationship types – wearing more than one hat
• Differing expectations or approaches to relationship and conflict resolution
• A third party’s needs are priority (ex/ a child)
• Inconsistency and/or unreliability
• Addictions, mental health challenges, chronic stress
• Fluctuating roles

“When people set boundaries with you, it’s their attempt to continue the relationship with you. It’s not an attempt to hurt you.” {Elizabeth Earnshaw}