Characteristics of a Healthy and Enjoyable Friendship or Dating Relationship

Partners Employee Assistance Program Top Banner


[+]Addiction How Can EAP Help? Alcohol and Alcoholism Cocaine Compulsive Gambling Compulsive Spending Eating Disorders Internet Addiction Kids and Drugs Quit Smoking Websites Alcohol Information [+]Child Care Child Care Options Child Development Stages Learning About Child Care Options Child Care Related Websites Recommended Reading on Child Care Safety Checklist for Parents and Providers Summer Camps Child Care Resources Critical Incidents [+]Disability and Accessibility Resources Disability and Accessibility Programs and Resources Resources for Family Caregivers Resource Locators by Type of Disability [+]Domestic Abuse How Can EAP Help? Are You Worried About Someone You Know? Dater's Creed Domestic Abuse Facts Domestic Abuse Resources Emergency Shelters for Women Sexual Assault Resources Stalking Resources What Parents Need to Know Why do Women Stay? LGBT Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Resources Abuse in Later Life [+]Elder Care How Can EAP Help? Alzheimer's Disease Caregivers Mental Health Resources [+]Financial How Can EAP Help? Money Management Tips Building Personal Wealth Credit Reports Credit Unions First Time Home Buying Managing Debt Save and Invest Financial Websites Financial Assistance Hotlines Fuel Assistance Resources Winter Heating Help Facing Foreclosure [+]Grief and Loss Helping Yourself and Others Through Grief Grief and Holidays Helping Yourself Through Grief Help for Your Relationship When Grieving Hospice an Untapped Resource for EAPs Readings About Grief Related Websites: Grief and Loss Spanish: How to Speak with Children about Death/Como Hablar Con Ninos Sobre la Muerte The Bereaved Employee: Returning to Work The Grieving Teen Tips for Talking to Children about Grief Traumatic Loss: Homicide and Suicide Bereavement When Should a Referral to Professionals be Made for a Grieving Teen When Your Pet Dies [+]Healthy Living How Can EAP Help? Balancing Work and Family Healthy Eating Healthy Relationships Living Safely Physical Activity Quit Smoking [+]Healthy Relationships Healthy Communication Characteristics of a Healthy Relationship Healthy Relationships Quiz for Parents How Can You Tell If Your Love Will Last? Relationships and Mental Health Healthy Relationships Recommended Reading Healthy Relationships Websites [+]Housing How Can EAP Help? Low to Moderate Income Housing Assistance Emergency Shelter Emergency Shelter for Women Affected by Domestic Abuse Fuel Assistance Temporary Accomodations [+]Lactation Support Mother's Corner Lactation Support Articles Mothers' Corner Lending Library [+]Legal How Can EAP Help? Bankruptcy Child Support Domestic Abuse Resources Elder Legal Resources Helpful Legal Resources Marital Separation and Divorce Tenants' Rights [+]Life Transitions How Can EAP Help? Children and Divorce Grief and Holidays Helping Yourself and Others Through Grief Job Loss Bulding Your Resilience to Stress [+]Managers and Supervisors What is the Partners EAP? The Manager/Supervisor Role in Working With the EAP How the EAP Works Making an Effective Referral Depression in the Workplace Manager and Supervisor Training Employee Orientation and Educational Programs Supporting Staff During Difficult Times Supporting Employees Experiencing the Illness or Death of a Coworker Domestic Violence [+]Mental Health How Can EAP Help? ADHD Anger Management Anxiety Disorders Autism Bipolar Disorder Child and Adolescent Mental Health Information Depression Eating Disorders Oppositional Defiant Disorder Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Suicide Websites for Mental Health Issues Military Families and Veterans [+]Parenting How Can EAP Help? Adoption Activities for Kids Child/Adolescent Mental Health Information Knowing When to Seek Mental Health Treatment for Your Child Kids and Drugs Lactation Support New Parents Parenting and Grief Parenting LGBT Youth Parenting Non Traditional Families Parental Stress and Family Crisis Parenting Teens Transition to College Parenting Through Divorce Parenting Young Children Safety Special Needs Children Words Can Work: Knowing the Issues, Talking with Kids Website Resources on Health and Mental Health [+]Relationships How can the EAP Help You? Domestic Abuse Healthy Relationships Seminars and Programs [+]Stress and Resilience How can the EAP Help You? Resilience: Being Able to Bounce Back Building Resilience to Stress Stress Management Balancing Work and Family Parental Stress Resources Strategies for the Holidays Coping Tips During Challenging Times Back To Home

Call Us 866-724-4EAP

Print This Page

Characteristics of a Healthy and Enjoyable Friendship or Dating Relationship

Honesty & Trust
Giving real compliments
Discussing problems
Using “I” messages to share feelings
Asking for what we want, not expecting they owe it to us
Admitting mistakes
Asking (not accusing) each other about rumors

Emotional Respect
Disagreeing without put-downs or threats
Respecting their right to be safe and to control their own body and decisions
Trying to understand their feelings, even if we disagree with their ideas
Caring to find out their point-of-view

Listening
Asking what they think and how they feel
Empathizing by putting ourselves in their shoes; guessing what they feel
Saying what we think we heard to check for understanding
Asking what is important to them

Freedom & Encouragement
We have the right to our own, and support each other’s rights to have, opinions, feelings, space, activities, friends, and dreams
Expressing fears, instead of claiming ownership, when jealous
Either person can decide to breakup

Sharing Activities
Hanging out together sometimes
Doing things each person enjoys
Encouraging each other’s enjoyment and success
Learning from each other

Kindness
Helping each other (while respecting our own limits)
Giving gifts sincerely, not to get something back; the thought, not the $ counts
Showing our care through consistent respect (not abuse followed by apologies)

Mutual Affection
Telling things that we like and appreciate about each other
Each decides if, how, and when we want to be to touched; checking to insure affection is mutual
Respecting each other’s values, property, bodies, pace, & limits; stopping if one says, “No”

Shared Decision-making
Deciding things together, not ordering
Negotiating differences
Splitting costs fairly
Searching for win-win solutions
Whoever pays, no one owes anyone kisses, touching, or anything else

Content provided with permission from Liz Claiborne, Inc.

For more information or to discuss relationship concerns please contact Partners Employee Assistance Program at 1-866-724-4EAP

In case of emergency, please call 911 or your local hospital emergency service.

This content was last modified on: 09/28/2010

Partners EAP serves employees, and their household members, of Partners HealthCare and related entities. Partners EAP is not a service for the general public.
Home \| Work & Life Resources \| Seminars & Events \| About EAP \| Search Site \| Contact Us \| Disclaimer \| Site design: MCD Studios
Call Us, Toll Free: 1-866-724-4EAP Offices at: MGH 617-726-6976 \| BWH 617-732-6017 NWH 617-243-6522 \| NSMC 866-724-4327 BWFH 617-983-4840