Canyon Creek Services!

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, BOUNDARIES, & CONSENT: A GUIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY

By teaching, promoting, and practicing healthy relationships, we can create "communities free of domestic violence and sexual assault."

Boundaries

Boundaries are limits that allow for safe connections between people. In relationships, a boundary may look like asking your partner to respect your digital privacy by not constantly asking you who you are texting or letting them know what kinds of physical affection you are comfortable with.

How do I create healthy boundaries in my relationship?

• Identify what makes you feel safe

• Communicate those boundaries with your partner

• Establish what you will do if those boundaries are crossed by your partner

• Ask your partner what boundaries they have and respect them

Healthy Relationships

Healthy Relationships are based on mutual respect and equality between partners.

Someone in a healthy relationship values their partner's boundaries, shows respect and always asks for consent.

Unhealthy Relationships

Unhealthy Relationships are based on power and control and inequality between partners. Individuals in unhealthy relationships are often disrespected due to a partner violating their boundaries and right to consent.

Consent

Consent is an agreement to do something.

In relationships, consent might look like asking your partner if you can kiss them or asking a child if you can have a hug.

Consent is important because every person has a right to say "no" at any time for any reason and to feel safe and respected.

If it's not clear, it's not consent!

Consent is like FRIES!

Freely given- You cannot consent if you feel forced or coerced into doing something.

Reversible- Anyone can change their mind at any time and just because someone said yes once doesn't mean they will say "yes" every time.

Informed- You can only consent to something if you know what you are getting into i.e. risks, potential consequences, etc.

Enthusiastic- Consent requires an uninhibited, wholehearted "yes!"

Specific- A "yes" to holding hands, doesn't mean a "yes" to kissing.

Relationship Rights

• You have the right to privacy, both online and off

• You have the right to feel safe and respected

• You have the right to decide who you want to date or not date

• You have the right to say no at any time to anything you're not comfortable doing

• You have the right to be with friends and family and do things you enjoy, without your partner becoming jealous or controlling

• You have the right to end a relationship that isn't right or healthy for you

• You have the right to live free from violence and abuse

You have the right to be safe!

Canyon Creek Services (CCS) provides free and confidential services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Iron, Beaver and Garfield counties. Services at CCS include emergency shelter, crisis intervention, information and referral, court and medical advocacy, mental health services, housing advocacy, safety planning and more. Help is available via the 24 hour hotline 435-233-5732 (call or text).

CCS additionally provides awareness, education, and prevention services in order to achieve our vision of Communities Free of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. For more information, please contact prevention@canyoncreekservices.org.