Prentis Hemphill said:

“Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously. Boundaries give us the space to do the work of loving ourselves. They might be, actually, the first and fundamental expression of self-love.”

While they can be easy to understand and define, boundaries are often difficult to apply and uphold. A common challenge in any relationship, this can be even more pronounced in the relationship with a loved one experiencing mental health difficulties.

To address this common conundrum, AMI is offering a series of three workshops:

Boundaries & Setting Limits (October 27) will describe and experiment with the definition of boundaries and the different kinds of boundaries. Participants will explore their existing boundaries, attitudes, and skills related to boundary setting, while beginning to identify where stronger and clearer limits may be needed. They will learn how to establish and practice boundaries with self-love, respect, and confidence.

Non-Negotiable Boundaries (November 10) will focus on non-negotiable boundaries and explore the difficulties in exercising them despite best intentions. Non-negotiable boundaries refer to the ‘red lines’ you want to establish to protect your safety and integrity; in other words, what you are not willing to accept or tolerate in your relationships (such as aggressive behaviour, substance use, dangerosity, etc). This is an experiential workshop. There will be some role playing.

Outcomes of Boundaries (November 24) will focus on the consequences of not upholding boundaries; what stands in the way of exercising boundaries and how we could possibly overcome these obstacles. There will be some role playing. This is an experiential workshop.

Interested caregivers can join one, two, or all sessions. However, to maximize benefits, we recommend that you attend Boundaries & Setting Limits and Non-Negotiable Boundaries (or have attended them in the past) before you attend Outcomes of Boundaries.