Friendship is the basis of most of our really important relationships. in this article you’ll learn how to be a good friend, what makes a good friend, and specific language to use to improve communication in friendships.

Perhaps you notice that there is an established or emerging pattern in your relationship(s). You might have noticed it in someone else’s relationship. Here are some toxic relationship patterns to help you pinpoint or name what you struggle to put words. While these are not definable mental health disorders, they can help us identify unhelpful or toxic patterns that need to be corrected or stopped. Also, someone may have more than one toxic trait.

When you were a kid or teen, did someone ever teach you what it meant to be a good friend? Bad friend? How friendships come and go? What to do when you feel peer pressure? What about the importance of having all different kinds of friendships? Navigating friendships is complicated because relationships are hard work! It is especially hard for kids because I don’t think there is a lot of explicit instructions other than the typical ‘how to share,’ “how to say please and thank you,’ ‘waiting in line,’ and ‘how to take turns.’ What about the more nuanced social skills like what to say when you feel betrayed, how we show kindness, how to forgive and repair a relationship, how to talk through conflict, and how to walk away from a friendship with respect.