Understanding the 6 Types of Boundaries

The key to healthier relationships is teaching clients how to establish boundaries. Boundaries are expectations and needs in different areas of human experience that help a person feel safe and comfortable in their relationships. Bestselling author and boundaries expert Nedra Glover Tawwab classifies boundaries into 6 distinct categories. They are:

• Intellectual boundaries: Preferences related to how opinions, thoughts, and conversational topics are shared and addressed.
• Emotional boundaries: What, where, and how much a person shares their emotional life and how your own and others’ emotional needs are handled.
• Sexual boundaries: How sexual matters are talked about, when, where, and how sexual material is presented, and consent related to sexual or sexually suggestive words, jokes, images, gestures, or touch.
• Time boundaries: How you relate to your own and others’ time and how time-related needs and preferences are treated.
• Material boundaries: Treatment of possessions and property, preferences and needs regarding possessions and property and how possessions and property are shared.
• Physical boundaries: Physical body, personal space as experienced through your senses and preferences for respect, privacy, closeness, and touch.

Use this free infographic to educate clients on the different types of boundaries they can set, what violations can look like, and how they can protect their peace.