What is a boundary—and why do family members so often cross it? In this episode of Boundaries & Banter, we sit down with licensed family therapist Bernadine Fried to break down what boundaries actually are, why they’re essential for mental health, and how family dynamics, in-laws, and culture complicate them.

We talk about physical, emotional, and relational boundaries, why people-pleasing leads to resentment, and how to set limits without guilt or over-explaining. We also react to a real listener story involving a sister-in-law snooping through a phone at family dinner—and exactly how to respond when a boundary is violated.

This episode is for anyone struggling with family boundaries, in-laws, people-pleasing, or feeling like setting limits makes you “the bad guy.”

00:00 – Welcome back + why we’re defining boundaries
00:26 – Meet Bernadine Fried (LMFT)
00:55 – What a boundary is (where I start/you begin)
01:20 – Physical vs emotional vs relational boundaries
02:52 – Why emotional boundaries create resentment
05:20 – Real-life example: midnight work call (no boundary)
06:00 – How to set boundaries without abandoning yourself
08:16 – Setting boundaries after “no boundaries” + pushback
09:08 – You don’t set boundaries alone (bring your partner in)
13:27 – Scripts: “This is what I’m needing right now”
15:23 – Consequences when people keep crossing it
20:03 – Culture + boundaries: when it feels like an attack
22:22 – Story time: sister-in-law snoops phone at Shabbat dinner
23:30 – What to say + do you apologize?
28:11 – Would You Rather (lightning round)
34:58 – Wrap + thank you

If this episode resonates, subscribe for honest conversations about boundaries, relationships, family dynamics, and mental health.

#boundaries
#familyboundaries
#inlaws
#mentalhealth
#peoplepleasing
#relationships
#therapy
#emotionalboundaries
#selfrespect
#healing
#podcast

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