The ECG Blog

Communication Skills Channing Harris Communication Skills Channing Harris

When Trust is Broken: A Compassionate Guide for the Hurt Partner

For the Hurt Partner

When discovering that your partner has been unfaithful, you may feel like the ground beneath you has disappeared. The emotions that follow can be overwhelming and come in waves, leaving you disoriented and unsure of what to do next. This kind of betrayal shakes your sense of reality and safety in ways that are hard to put into words. Whatever you're feeling right now is valid. You're not alone, and you're not wrong for struggling to make sense of it all.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by shock, grief, rage, confusion, or even numbness, know that you're not overreacting, you're responding to a deep and painful wound. Betrayal trauma is real, and it can profoundly impact your nervous system, your sense of identity, and your overall feeling of safety in the world. The emotional aftermath of infidelity isn’t something you can, or should, simply “get over.” Your feelings are valid and are a natural response to an experience that shakes the foundation of trust. 

There’s no need to minimize what you’re going through or rush yourself to move on; in fact, doing so can actually prolong the healing process. Think of emotional healing like physical therapy after an injury. While the exercises may be painful in the moment, they’re necessary for long-term recovery and strength. And just like skipping physical therapy can lead to complications or make the injury worse, ignoring or suppressing emotional pain can deepen the wound and delay healing.

In the aftermath of betrayal, it’s easy to lose sight of your most basic needs, but self-care isn’t selfish; it’s essential. Your body and mind are under intense stress, and small, consistent acts of care can help you begin to stabilize. Prioritize sleep, hydration, and regular meals, even if your appetite is low. Maintaining simple daily routines, like getting out of bed at the same time or taking a short walk, can help bring a sense of structure and normalcy.

If certain things feel overwhelming, such as social media or difficult conversations, it’s okay to set boundaries. Boundaries are not ultimatums, they're tools for protecting your well-being and restoring a sense of safety in your relationships. After a relational wound like infidelity, establishing boundaries is not only appropriate, it’s necessary. A therapist can help you identify and implement these boundaries and support you as you navigate the emotional fallout. You don’t have to face this alone, trusted friends, family, or support groups can also be valuable sources of care and connection.

You don’t need to decide right now whether to stay in the relationship or walk away. In the immediate aftermath of infidelity, it’s common to feel pressure, whether from yourself or others, to find clarity quickly. But real healing begins with giving yourself space to feel before trying to fix. This isn’t the time for rushed decisions; it’s a time to tune into your emotional needs, care for your well-being, and allow the dust to settle. 

Early on, you're likely to experience intense and painful emotions, but meaningful decisions are best made when emotion is balanced with reflection. With time, as the initial shock begins to ease, you’ll be better equipped to consider the full picture and make choices that truly align with your values and needs. Whatever direction you eventually take, that decision will be clearer and more grounded if it comes from a place of self-awareness rather than urgency or overwhelm.

Discovering infidelity is one of the most painful experiences a person can face, and it’s completely natural to feel overwhelmed and uncertain in its aftermath. Remember that your feelings, no matter how intense or confusing, are valid and an important part of the healing process. Give yourself the time and space to care for your needs, set healthy boundaries, and seek support from trusted friends, family, or professionals. 

There’s no need to rush decisions about the future of your relationship; instead, focus on grounding yourself and tuning into what you truly need. Healing is possible, even after profound pain, and with patience and self-compassion, you can navigate this difficult chapter and find clarity along the way. You are more resilient than you may realize. 

Continue Reading Part I: The Emotional Impact of Infidelity

Continue Reading Part III: For the Unfaithful Partner

Continue Reading Part IV: Can A Couple Heal From Infidelity?

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Communication Skills Channing Harris Communication Skills Channing Harris

Infidelity Hurts: A Guide to Coping, Clarity, and Repair

Infidelity is one of the most painful and disorienting challenges a couple can face. Whether you’ve discovered the betrayal or were the one who broke the trust, the emotional weight can feel overwhelming and destabilizing. Feelings of shock, grief, confusion, and guilt are common responses to infidelity and reflect our fundamental humanity. Every situation is unique, but the pain that accompanies infidelity is real, shaking not only the very foundation of a relationship but also one’s sense of identity. Despite the heartbreak, healing is possible. With honesty, courage, and commitment from both partners, relationships can not only survive, they can sometimes emerge even stronger.

Discovering a partner’s infidelity often unleashes a whirlwind of intense emotions. Feelings like disbelief, numbness, rage, and panic are common in the immediate aftermath. It can seem as though your entire world has collapsed, leaving you struggling to distinguish what’s real. This betrayal shakes your sense of identity and deeply impacts your self-esteem, causing you to question everything you thought you knew about your relationship, and sometimes even about yourself. 

The emotional highs and lows you’re experiencing aren’t signs of losing control; instead, they are natural responses to an acutely traumatic experience. You’re not going crazy. Your brain and body are working hard to protect you, trying to make sense of a situation that feels overwhelming and confusing.

For the partner who had the affair, the emotional aftermath can be deeply conflicted. You may be navigating a complex mix of guilt, shame, and fear, especially the fear of losing the relationship and everything it represents. Feeling torn is common, as you may feel regret over the betrayal while also struggling to understand what led to it in the first place. Witnessing your partner’s pain can be heartbreaking, especially when you are still processing your own feelings. This inner conflict doesn’t excuse the behavior, but it highlights the complicated emotions that often follow infidelity. Owning your actions fully and acknowledging the hurt you caused is an essential step toward any meaningful repair.

In the wake of infidelity, emotions often run high. That’s not only normal, it’s expected. Both partners may experience a wide range of intense and sometimes conflicting feelings, from anger and grief to guilt and confusion. It’s important to remember that all of these emotional responses are valid. The early days and weeks often feel chaotic and unpredictable. It’s common to question everything: yourself, your partner, your relationship, and what the future holds. 

You may find yourself swinging between wanting to stay and feeling the urge to leave, or between wanting to fight for the relationship and questioning whether healing is even possible. This emotional messiness is part of the process, not a sign that something is wrong with you or the relationship. Rather than rushing to push past the pain or make quick decisions, it’s crucial to allow space for feelings to unfold. Just because the emotions feel overwhelming now doesn’t mean the relationship is beyond repair or that healing is impossible.

While the pain of infidelity can feel all-consuming, it doesn’t have to define the future of your relationship or your sense of self. Healing takes time, intention, and often the support of a professional who can help you make sense of the emotional upheaval. Therapy offers a safe, structured space for both partners to process what’s happened and explore whether repair is possible. No matter how overwhelming this moment feels, it is just one chapter, not the whole story. Both of your emotional responses are valid and deeply human. Though the path forward may be uncertain, healing is possible.


Continue Reading Part II: For the Hurt Partner

Continue Reading Part III: For the Unfaithful Partner

Continue Reading Part IV: Can A Couple Heal From Infidelity?

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Communication Skills Dr. Etta Gantt, PhD, LPC, NCC Communication Skills Dr. Etta Gantt, PhD, LPC, NCC

Assertive, Not Aggressive: A College Student’s Guide to Confident Communication in Charleston SC

The Directing Zone - Assertive vs. Aggressive Communication

Assertiveness = Clarity + Respect.


Being assertive means speaking up clearly and respectfully. It’s a vital skill for leadership, boundary-setting, and self-advocacy. Assertive communication is best used in tandem with the other zones of communication as well. That way, it is not a constant directing and leading, but taking time to hear from and connect with others as well. 

Assertive communication is critical for engaging with others to create change and provide direction. Strong assertive communication skills are commonly considered signs of a strong leader. Imagine someone who can take charge and use their voice to direct or inspire others to meet a goal. Assertive communication also includes knowing how to set boundaries and express needs. Assertive communication allows one to advocate for themselves and others. 

For many people, this skill feels out of reach. You may know what you want to say, but your voice escapes you. You have plenty of thoughts and needs, but it feels like there’s a block when you decide to share them. Or maybe the thought doesn’t even cross your mind to share what you’re thinking. It can feel scary to speak your truth, especially when you’re worried about what others might think. 

Lack of confidence, cultural norms, emotional triggers, exhaustion, and lack of skills are all obstacles to assertive communication. People struggling with self-confidence often don’t feel that they have enough importance to share what they think or stand up for themselves. Many women feel as if they were trained by societal norms to not say “no,” to apologize, and to be gentle. And for some when we are feeling emotionally triggered by our past it may bring up our startle response and we go to flight, freeze, or fawn, instead of fight. And, when we are exhausted and already worn down with excessive work then it gets even harder to set our boundaries or stand up for ourselves. 

For others, leading, directing, and telling people what you really think might feel like second nature. But, you may tend to “ruffle feathers.” Or, you might feel frustrated when people aren’t changing no matter how much you’re telling people. This may signal the line between assertive and aggressive communication being crossed. 

Aggressive communication is described as coming off as hostile, domineering, or “silencing.” Either the amount you’re talking or the words you’re using are leading others to feel like they can’t say anything at all or feeling bullied into action instead of guided. Aggressive communication might be threat-based or including ultimatums, pushing someone to think or be like you, or demanding others to change. Assertive communication might be communicating for a similar purpose but is presented with more connection, calmness, and clarity.  

Assertive communication sounds like:

  • “I can’t make it.” or “I can’t make it. Thank you for the invite.”

  • “Please wear a mask around the baby.”

  • “I need some space. I’ll be in my room for an hour.”

  • “I know you meant well, but I know what’s best for me.”

  • “What you said was offensive to me. Please don’t say that again.

Aggressive communication, on the other hand, can feel overpowering or silencing. It may push people away, even if the intention is to solve a problem. Aggressive communication is focused on what the other person is doing wrong without clear direction. 

Aggressive style often looks like:

  • Talking at people rather than with them

  • Using intimidating body language or tone

  • Dismissing or shutting down other viewpoints

Assertive communication focuses on:

  • Boundaries

  • Clarity

  • Calm delivery

  • Connection and respect

Final thoughts:


Whether you're leading a team, setting a boundary with a friend, or simply sharing your perspective, assertiveness empowers you, and invites others to do the same.

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Communication Skills Dr. Etta Gantt, PhD, LPC, NCC Communication Skills Dr. Etta Gantt, PhD, LPC, NCC

“No Offense, But…”: How Passive-Aggressive Habits Could Be Undermining Your Relationships in College

Why passive-aggressive communication is so common

A lot of us are scared to hurt people’s feelings, but we have pent up frustrations that we don’t know what to do with. This is a common cause for passive-aggressive communication. Passive-aggressive communication includes those little comments under someone’s breath, sarcasm, and mixed messages. This could include starting a comment with “no offense, but…,” or saying “That’s fine. Whatever you want” with a tone of disdain. In these situations there’s no collaboration or connection, but instead the two zones are working against each other and cancelling out the message.  

It’s normal to feel frustrated or resentful, but many don’t know how to express discontent. They’ve been taught that telling someone you disagree or disapprove is wrong. Others feel clueless or lost on how to effectively tell someone they are upset and are fearful of the reaction they may receive when being honest. Instead of passive-aggression, one can practice assertive communication and boundary setting, or engage in active listening and problem solving to understand and address the problem with more of a collaborative and preventative approach. 

The sweet spot of communication is collaboration and mutual connection.
Most great conversations live in the “mixed zone”—a balanced space where listening and sharing flow naturally. This is where shared goals, creative problem-solving, and mutual understanding happen. Similarly, strong connections and relationships usually have a balance of give and take- both or all parties have opportunity to share and all feel heard. Using both zones seamlessly is a skill that develops over time for prime and effective communication. Without awareness and skill, passive-aggressive communication uses both zones ineffectively to provide muddy and ineffective messages. 

Using the two zones for collaboration looks like:

  • Back-and-forth discussion

  • Joint brainstorming

  • Shared decision-making

  • Everyone having a voice at the table

Why it matters:
Imagine working on a team project. You might not know every detail, but your unique input could fill a gap or inspire a breakthrough. Collaboration allows each person to contribute their strengths while learning from others.

Key skills:

  • Curiosity

  • Respect for different perspectives

  • Willingness to adjust your ideas based on new input

  • Confidence in your own role and value

Avoid slipping into passive-aggressive patterns here. True collaboration is clear, direct, and inclusive—not cryptic or manipulative.

The importance of mutual connection

Have you ever had someone in your life who seems only interested in talking about themselves—never really asking about you? It’s not a great feeling. Over time, the relationship can start to feel one-sided and unfulfilling.

But here’s something to consider: is it possible they have asked, but you didn’t open up? Sometimes, we assume others aren’t interested when really, we haven’t given them the chance. Try sharing more about yourself or expressing your needs. You could also directly ask for more time to talk or for them to ask about you more often—and then observe what happens.

If nothing changes, that tells you something important. But if they respond and make space for you, then you’ve used healthy, assertive communication to shift the dynamic.

On the flip side—do you sometimes find yourself oversharing? Maybe once you start on a topic, it all just spills out. Or perhaps silence makes you uneasy, so you fill every pause. These habits are totally normal, but they can sometimes contribute to one-sided relationships too.

The most meaningful connections have a balance of give and take—of sharing and listening. That balance can shift, but in healthy relationships, both people are willing to notice and adjust.

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Communication Skills Dr. Etta Gantt, PhD, LPC, NCC Communication Skills Dr. Etta Gantt, PhD, LPC, NCC

“Are You Really Listening?” A Guide to Active Listening for Students in Charleston South Carolina

“Are You Really Listening?” A Guide to Active Listening for Students in Charleston South Carolina

Are you a good listener, or just avoiding conflict?


Are you a great listener? This might be your sweet spot! Do you avoid conflict? This might be where you’re getting stuck! Do you move fast and like to take charge? This might be where you struggle. Listening is a powerful tool to help strengthen relationships, connections, and decision making. The receiving/ listening zone of communication is incredibly valuable as it helps to understand others’ points of view. It can open your mind and give you more clarity. Even if you see something very differently from someone else, opening your ears and mind to a different perspective can help you see a bigger picture.

It’s important to distinguish between active and passive listening. Active listening is an effective and transformative tool, whereas passive listening inspires little change or meaningful connection.  Active listening includes inquiry, to get to know someone’s experience better, and empathic responses that demonstrate connection and understanding of the information being shared. Active listening allows the other person to feel seen and heard without judgement. This can be both healing and effective for relationship building and can help aid the talking party to feel more clear in their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. 

Passive communication may feel more disconnected and one sided. Passive communication describes one person expressing something while the other is standing silently as the information passes by them. Passive communication might look like no eye contact with little to no responses. Passive communication might look like nodding and saying yes to appease the other person with no meaning or changes taken from the conversation. Passive communication may be a response of feeling afraid of connecting, wanting to just appease someone rather than be active in the situation, or feeling too stressed and overwhelmed to fully engage.

Active listening includes strong eye contact, mirroring body language, and verbal and non-verbal responses that encourage the talking party and demonstrate understanding. Understanding doesn’t have to mean agreeing, but hearing and respecting. This is a key skill in many conflicts to help disarm, heal, and move forward. This is what your partner is talking about when they say they want to be “seen and heard.”

A key detail in active listening is that you aren’t listening to jump in and speak unless the other person is asking for you to do so. Your responses are very instead to demonstrate understanding and encourage more sharing. One of the most effective ways to do this is by providing reflections or paraphrasing. Reflections demonstrate empathy of the other person’s experience. You are mirroring back what you’re hearing. 

Active Listening is not the same as staying quiet. It involves:

  • Asking thoughtful questions

  • Responding with empathy

  • Showing you’re present through eye contact, nodding, and engaged body language

Imagine being a student learning about a topic that interests you. This is how you can approach listening to someone else to demonstrate active listening. They are the expert on their life and perspective and you are the student learning.

Passive Communication, by contrast, looks like:

  • No eye contact

  • Staying silent to avoid conflict

  • Withdrawing or “going along” to keep peace

Active Listening Skills:

  • Verbal reflections:

    • “That sounds really tough.”

    • “It seems like this has been weighing on you.”

    • “You’ve been thinking a lot about this.”

  • Encouraging questions:

    • “Tell me more about that.”

    • “How was that for you?”

    • “What led you to that decision?”

  • Non-verbal cues:

    • Nodding

    • Eye contact

    • Responsive facial expressions

    • Putting away distractions (like your phone)

Listening deeply is one of the most powerful tools for building trust, connection, and resolution, especially in conflict. Slowing down and listening to someone else can also help you learn more about yourself and the world around you. We all have our own unique perspectives, ideas, and thoughts. One person doesn’t know it all. Taking time to listen and learn from someone else, can only help us to keep growing.

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Communication Skills Dr. Etta Gantt, PhD, LPC, NCC Communication Skills Dr. Etta Gantt, PhD, LPC, NCC

What’s YOUR Communication Style? Better Relationships for women in Charleston, SC

What’s YOUR Communication Style? Better Relationships for women in Charleston, SC

What is your communication style?


Are you passive, passive-aggressive, aggressive—or something else entirely? Communication is more than just talking or listening—it’s knowing when to do which. The goal is to move smoothly between listening and expressing yourself, depending on the moment. Developing your communication skills can be incredibly useful for strengthening your work success and social life. Intentional communication can also deepen the quality of your relationships. Harnessing your communication skills for your intimate relationships improves the connection, cohesiveness, and the ability to work through the inevitable conflicts. 


Communication Zones


There are different “communication zones”, each with a purpose. Sometimes, we need to lead or be direct. Other times, we need to listen and support. A lot of times we are living somewhere in between. By understanding and harnessing skills from each zone, you can seamlessly navigate your personal and professional relationships with more awareness.The three zones of communication include the receiving zone, the directing zone, and the “mixed” zone. Each zone describes the quantity of contribution to the conversation, but all are equal in importance and quality of communication. Effective communication is assertive communication. One can be assertive in all three zones. 

The receiving zone includes more listening then talking. This zone is incredibly effective for communicating by letting others feel seen and heard and by understanding a different or new experience. When disengaged, stressed, disoriented, or scared, this zone looks a lot like passive communication which is ineffective due to the lack of connection and authenticity. It’s hard for meaningful change to happen when one party is being passive. 

The directing zone includes more talking and leading in conversations. The directing zone is crucial for expressing visions, needs, and boundaries. This zone is important for self-protection, self-expression, and leading. This zone can be very ineffective if someone is so stressed and disoriented that they are coming across as aggressive. Aggressive communication feels hostile and discouraging of other voices. 

The mixed zone is in the middle of the receiving and directing zone and uses both listening and contributing to communicate with others. This zone is collaborative and often focused on problem solving and connection building. If someone is unskilled or uncomfortable with directive communication, they are more likely to lean into this zone with “passive-aggressive” tendencies. This means when they try to express a need, vision, or boundary they may do so in a way that is unclear, confusing, or uninviting. 

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Reflection questions:

Communication styles exist across a spectrum and you may have different styles in different areas in your life. You may naturally fall more often in to one zone, and that’s okay! Consider your area of strength and the others as your areas of growth! Use these reflection questions to explore where you may fall on the spectrum in different areas of your life. 

  • Are you more of a listener or a talker? Think deeper: do you work things out by talking it out or being quiet with your thoughts? Do you love expressing yourself or do you love hearing more about other people?

  • When are you more likely to be a good listener? When are you more likely to say something you don’t mean?

  • Is it easy or hard for you to express your thoughts, needs, or boundaries? When you speak? What do you share? 

  • Are you more reserved with private details or do you lean towards dumping it all out?

  • Do you avoid or embrace conflict? Are you a people-pleaser, or do you like shaking things up?

  • In what areas in my life (ex: work, friends, family, etc.) do I feel most comfortable expressing myself? Which areas do I feel least comfortable? Why?

  • What makes you feel grounded? What actions or activities make you feel calm, clear, and secure?

  • What makes you feel empowered? What actions or activities make you feel confident and expressive? 

Before you speak, get grounded.


Feeling overwhelmed or reactive? Try this:

  • Pause and reflect- how stressed and regulated am I feeling right now? 

  • Take some deep breaths or engage in one of your favorite calming activities- give yourself some time whether it’s a 60 seconds or 24 hours to make sure you are in a less reactive place of communication.

  • Remember your intention- Ask what you are trying to achieve out of your communication?

Speak Confidently, get empowered.

Feeling like the cat has your tongue? Try this.

  • Reach out to a friend for support- reach out to your favorite hype person or someone you know you can trust to practice or get some encouragement. 

  • Try writing it out first- put the words to paper to give yourself some practice and clarity! 

  • Exercise, sing, draw, or do whatever it is that makes you feel most strong and most like yourself. 

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College Students, Communication Skills, Boundaries Landrie Ethredge, MA, LPC, CCTP College Students, Communication Skills, Boundaries Landrie Ethredge, MA, LPC, CCTP

How to Set Boundaries with Roommates, Friends, and Professors (Without Feeling Guilty!) for College Students in Charleston South Carolina

How to Set Boundaries with Roommates, Friends, and Professors (Without Feeling Guilty!)

Boundaries. That word alone can make your stomach twist, right? If you’re a college student or young adult, chances are you’ve run into situations where you wanted to say no, but didn’t. Maybe it was a roommate who kept borrowing your clothes, a friend who keeps unloading her problems at 2 a.m. (!!), or a professor who expected more than your schedule could realistically allow.

At Ethredge Counseling Group, we hear this all the time: “I know I need boundaries, but I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

The guilt is real.

But here’s the thing, boundaries aren’t mean! They’re actually the foundation of healthy, respectful relationships. In fact, at ECG, we believe clear is actually kind!

Let’s break down how to set boundaries with people in your life, without carrying a ton of guilt or second guessing yourself.

What Are Boundaries, Really?

Boundaries are the limits you set for yourself to protect your time, energy, mental health, and personal space. Think of them like invisible fences. They’re not walls to keep people out, but guidelines for how others can interact with you in ways that feel safe and respectful.

Without boundaries, relationships tend to get confusing, overwhelming, or even harmful. When you're juggling school, a social life, work, and your own wellbeing? Boundaries aren’t just a good idea, they’re a necessity.

The Guilt Trap: Why Setting Boundaries Feels So Hard

Let’s be honest. Many of us were raised to be accommodating, “nice”, agreeable, or even self sacrificing. Saying “no” can feel selfish when you’re just starting out on your boundaries journey. You might worry people will get mad, pull away, or think you’re difficult. (Again, that’s a very normal feeling when you are just starting to learn healthy communication skills!)

Here’s the truth: people who care about you will respect your boundaries. The ones who don’t? That says more about them than it does about you. They may need a little time to adjust to your new boundaries, and if they can’t adjust, that may give you some good information about the future of that relationship.

Setting boundaries isn’t about pushing people away or being mean. It’s about protecting your energy so you can show up for your life, your goals, and your relationships in a healthier and happier way.

Boundaries with Roommates: Your Space, Your Sanity

Living with someone, especially someone you didn’t know well before college, can be tricky. Little things like shared spaces, guests, noise, and cleanliness can cause big tension without clear expectations.

Try this:

  • Set up a “roommate meeting” early on (and even monthly!). Talk about preferences for sleep schedules, guests, chores, and alone time.

  • Be direct but respectful: “Hey, I’ve been having a hard time sleeping when there’s noise after midnight. Can we figure out a quiet time that works for both of us?”

  • Use “I” statements to avoid sounding accusatory: “I feel overwhelmed when the kitchen is left messy, and it makes it hard for me to focus. Can we work out a cleanup routine?”

Roommate boundaries aren’t about being picky, they’re about protecting your long term peace and fostering mutual respect.

Boundaries with Friends: Saying No Without Losing the Friendship

Friendship is supposed to feel mutually supportive, not draining. But sometimes, especially in college, you may find yourself in dynamics where you’re the default problem solver, the one always saying yes, or the one avoiding hard conversations.

Here’s how to shift that:

  • Be honest: “I love being here for you, but I’m feeling emotionally overwhelmed right now. Can we talk later when I have more energy to listen?”

  • Don’t over explain. A simple “I won’t be able to make it tonight, but I hope it’s fun! Let’s hang out next week!” is totally enough.

  • Watch for one-sided friendships. If someone consistently crosses your boundaries or gets upset when you express your needs, that might be a red flag.

Healthy friendships can survive boundaries, and often get stronger because of them.

Boundaries with Professors: Advocating for Yourself Academically

Professors might seem intimidating, but they’re human, too! While it’s important to meet your academic responsibilities, it’s also okay to speak up when you’re overwhelmed or need clarity.

Examples of healthy academic boundaries:

  • Asking for extensions when appropriate: “I’m managing a high workload right now and would really benefit from a short extension. Would it be possible to have an extra 48 hours for this assignment?”

  • Clarifying expectations: “Could you help me better understand what you’re looking for in this project?”

  • Being firm but respectful: “I can’t take on extra responsibilities for the group project right now, but I’ll focus on completing my assigned part thoroughly.”

You deserve to learn and grow in an environment that supports your mental health, not just your GPA.

Tips for Setting Boundaries Without the Guilt

Even when you know you need to set a boundary, the guilt can sneak in.

Try these mindset shifts:

  • You’re not responsible for other people’s feelings. You can be kind and clear, and how they respond is up to them. There is a difference between hurting someone, and harming someone. A new boundary might temporarily hurt someone’s feelings, but a healthy boundary is a good thing for all involved.

  • Boundaries = honesty. You’re letting people see the real you and giving them the chance to meet you there.

  • Practice helps. Start with small boundaries and work your way up. It gets easier the more you do it. It’s just like a muscle that hasn’t been used before! It might not feel great at first, but you will get stronger and healthier over time!

Note: Boundaries don’t need to come with a TED Talk. Sometimes a simple, “I’m not available for that right now” is all it takes :)

What If Someone Doesn’t Respect Your Boundaries?

This can be painful, but it’s important data. If someone regularly pushes past your limits, dismisses your needs, or punishes you for asserting yourself, it’s time to reevaluate the relationship.

Respect is a two way street. Boundaries help you figure out who’s truly in your corner. Remember, boundaries are simply letting people how best to love and support you. A true friend can learn to respect that and appreciate your bravery in sharing that.

Therapy Can Help You Build Boundary Confidence

At Ethredge Counseling Group, we support students and young adults who are learning how to speak up for themselves, protect their energy, and prioritize mental health without guilt.

If setting boundaries is new, scary, or triggering old patterns, that’s okay. It takes practice, and support. Our therapists are here to help you build those skills and use your voice with confidence!!

Final Thought: You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to ask for space. You are allowed to protect your time, your energy, and your mental health.

Boundaries are not the end of connection. They are the beginning of healthy connection.

And the more you practice, the more empowered you’ll feel.

We’re cheering you on every step of the way!!

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Ethredge Counseling Group provides individual counseling, trauma therapy, and couples therapy at their offices on James Island in Charleston, SC. Our therapist also serve Johns Island, downtown Charleston, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, and Folly Beach, as well as virtually in Tennessee and Arkansas.