Therapist: Better Boundaries Create Healthier Relationships

What if the key to better relationships isn't doing more for others, but knowing when to do less?

Nedra Glover Tawwab, a licensed therapist with almost 20 years of practice, is changing how millions think about healthy connection. Her new book, The Balancing Act, offers a refreshing take on building relationships that don't drain you dry.

The biggest revelation? Codependency isn't all bad. We've been taught to view it as something toxic to eliminate completely, but Tawwab says it exists on a spectrum.

"At times, codependency is a way that we are trying to help someone or show love," she explains. The problem only comes when we give so much that we overwhelm ourselves.

Her solution is simple but powerful: flexibility. Healthy relationships need the ability to say yes sometimes and no at other times, not rigid patterns that lock us into one role forever.

Tawwab points out something many of us miss. If you're over-giving in one relationship, you don't need to recreate that pattern everywhere else. The key is balance across your whole support network.

Maybe you have someone in your life who genuinely needs extra support right now. That's okay, as long as you're asking yourself important questions about your other connections. Are there relationships that pour back into you? If not, it might be time to seek them out.

Why This Inspires

With over 2.5 million followers across social media and a New York Times bestseller under her belt, Tawwab is reaching people who've struggled silently with relationship exhaustion for years. Her message offers permission to care for others without losing yourself in the process.

The therapist has appeared on CBS Morning Show and been featured in major publications, but her real impact shows up in the comments from readers who finally feel understood. They're learning that creating boundaries isn't selfish. It's what makes genuine connection possible.

After two decades of relationship therapy, Tawwab knows one truth: the healthiest relationships aren't built on sacrifice, but on knowing when to give and when to protect your own well-being.