How to Set Boundaries With Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab

Therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab, guest of The Verywell Mind Podcast Episode 54

Verywell / Hetal Rathod

Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life.

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Meet Nedra Glover Tawwab

Nedra Glover Tawwab is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who specializes in relationships. She helps people manage anxiety and depression that often stem from challenging relationships, and she teaches people how to set boundaries with difficult family members. 

She shares a lot of tips for self-care and setting boundaries on social media, including on Instagram, where she has attracted over 825,000 followers.

Nedra's book, "Set Boundaries, Find Peace," is filled with actionable strategies for establishing the boundaries you need to achieve better work-life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy healthy relationships.

Why Nedra Glover Tawwab Is Mentally Strong 

Nedra’s philosophy is that most relationship problems stem from a lack of boundaries. And her goal is to help people discover how to speak up and set boundaries that can help them establish healthy relationships with themselves and others. 

Nedra openly shares her knowledge, skills, and practices on social media. She teaches people what she’s learned and inspires others to have compassion toward themselves and others. 

What You’ll Hear on the Show

  • Why it’s so important to establish boundaries
  • How boundaries help us develop healthier relationships
  • What a boundary really is and how to establish it
  • The telltale signs that you need to set better boundaries
  • How to take back your power when you aren’t being treated the way you want
  • Examples of how to set boundaries in specific situations (a mother-in-law who doesn’t follow the rules with your kids, someone who shows up unannounced when you don’t want them to, or a friend who always calls in a crisis)
  • How Nedra set boundaries when she worked as a juvenile probation officer
  • How to know when someone is manipulating you
  • What to do when someone is not respecting your boundaries
  • How to respond to someone who always asks for your help
  • How to get started setting boundaries if you aren’t used to establishing them

What You’ll Learn About Boundaries and Mental Strength

Some people are passive in their relationships. They allow others to treat them any way they want. Consequently, they often feel used and frustrated when people don’t show them respect. This interferes with developing healthy relationships.

Other people are aggressive. They get upset when others don’t meet their expectations, yet they don’t communicate those expectations ahead of time. Their behavior often means they aren’t well-liked, and they struggle to maintain close relationships. 

People who have good boundaries set the rules and communicate these rules to others. When people fail to meet those expectations, they address it. This helps them establish the healthiest relationships because everyone knows one another’s expectations.

People who have healthy boundaries feel more in control. While they aren’t trying to control other people, they know they can control how they respond to others. Having a healthy sense of control and healthy relationships with others is key to being mentally strong.

Quotes From Nedra

Nedra Glover Tawwab

A lot of boundaries that we're missing are the boundaries that we need with ourselves, around how we operate in our relationships with other people, and how we operate in our relationship with ourselves.

— Nedra Glover Tawwab
  • “There are a lot of feelings and behaviors that happen that could indicate that a boundary is needed.”
  • “Letting people know that certain things are just not working for you is a really helpful way to take back your power.”
  • “I don't think allowing people to take advantage of you is a sign you are a nice and kind person.”
  • “Boundaries without consequences are not really boundaries. They're just wishful thinking.”

More About the Podcast

The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too.

By Amy Morin, LCSW
Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk,  "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time.