Being assertive is an important communication skill which can reduce your levels of depression and anxiety and improve your self esteem. Assertiveness is a communication style that helps people to express their feelings, thoughts, beliefs, and opinions in an open manner that doesn’t violate the rights of others. Other communication styles you may have heard of include being aggressive, which is a style that violates the rights of others, and being passive where we violate our own rights. You have probably also heard of passive-aggressive. This is where someone is essentially being aggressive but in a passive or indirect way. Participants will learn to identify each of these communication styles as well as practice their newly acquired assertiveness tools in a supportive setting.

Boundaries are clearly defined limits within which you are free to be yourself with no restrictions placed on you by others, as to how to think, feel, or act. Establishing boundaries is essential to creating and maintaining mental, physical and spiritual health. Participants will learn how boundaries influence our relationships and ways to set boundaries in an assertive way. Additionally, participants will explore the negative effects of not setting limits and the benefits to be gained by protecting personal boundaries.