STAIR Narrative Therapy: 7. The Resource of Connection — Learning to Be Assertive
STAIR Narrative Therapy: 7. The Resource of Connection — Learning to Be Assertive
Exploring how trauma can affect our ability to express ourselves, why assertiveness can feel difficult, and how we can learn to communicate our needs with greater confidence.
Have you ever agreed to something when you really wanted to say no?
Perhaps you have kept quiet about something that upset you because you were worried about causing an argument. Maybe you have apologised for expressing a reasonable need, or found yourself becoming increasingly frustrated because you feel that other people are not listening.
For some people, expressing needs and preferences feels relatively straightforward. For others, particularly those who have experienced trauma, intimidation or relationships in which their boundaries were not respected, being assertive can feel uncomfortable or even unsafe.
In this seventh article in my STAIR Narrative Therapy series, I explore assertiveness: what it means, why it can be difficult to develop, and how learning to communicate more clearly can support healthier relationships.
What...