Setting Boundaries with Your Ex

This is my second post in my Nice Guy series. It is aimed at helping “nice guys” to have happier, healthier relationships and get their needs met. Even though it’s titled Nice Guys, I think many women will relate as well. I work with a lot of “nice guys” in my psychotherapy practice. They tend to be very caring, people-pleasers, and sometimes have trouble asking for and getting what they need and want. This can lead to resentments, anger, and burn out.

I recently wrote an article for PsychCentral on how and why boundaries with your Ex are important. It highlights how clear boundaries with your Ex help to create safe and healthy relationships for everyone involved – you, your kids, your new partner, your ex and your ex’s family and friends.

Boundaries provide a physical or emotional space between you and someone else. This space allows for self-expression, self-care, and mutual respect. If boundaries are weak, we risk being taken advantage of, abused, and disrespected. This space is also important so that you can have a healthy intimate relationship with a new partner. You must disengage from your Ex to free yourself up emotionally and physically for a new partner.

Please visit PsychCentral to read the full article.

Dr. Sharon Martin, LCSW

Sharon Martin, a licensed counselor and psychotherapist in Northern California, specializes in helping adult children of alcoholics and others who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and self-criticism. She has a private psychotherapy practice in CA where she is available for online counseling. Sharon is also the author of The CBT Workbook for Perfectionism and write the blog Conquering Codependency for Psychology Today.