Lesson 3.1 of 4

What Makes a Relationship Healthy?

How do I know if what I have is healthy or just familiar?

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Slide 1. WHAT MAKES A RELATIONSHIP HEALTHY?
Slide 2. MYTH VS. FACT MYTH: "Jealousy means they really care about you." FACT: Jealousy is a feeling. Acting on it by controlling, monitoring, or isolating a partner is not love. This should act as a warning sign.
Slide 3. WHY THIS This applies to: romantic relationships, friendships, family MATTERS dynamics, and online connections. Healthy relationships are built. This is not something that just happens. The patterns you establish in your first relationships shape what feels 'normal' to you for years. Learning what to look for early makes an enormous difference.
Slide 4. THE FOUNDATIONS Healthy relationships are built on four things: 1.Trust: you believe in each other's honesty and intentions 2.Communication: you can say what you feel without fear of punishment 3.Mutual respect: you value each other as individuals, not possessions 4.Boundaries: both people's limits are known and honored All four can be learned and practiced. None of them should require constant fighting for.
Slide 5. GREEN FLAGS Green flags: signs of a healthy relationship: You feel comfortable being yourself around them They celebrate your successes rather than feeling threatened Disagreements get resolved, and not weaponized You have space for your own friends, interests, and time You feel better about yourself, not worse, after being around them They apologize when they're wrong and mean it You trust them without needing to verify constantly
Slide 6. RED FLAGS Red flags: signs worth paying attention to: Jealousy used to justify controlling behavior Checking your phone, location, or social media without permission Putting you down privately or in front of others Guilt-tripping you for spending time with friends or family Explosive anger when you disagree Extreme intensity very early ("you're my whole world" in week two) Making you feel responsible for their emotions
Slide 7. HEALTHY VS. UNHEALTHY COMPARISON Healthy Unhealthy "I missed you" "Where were you, why didn't you text back immediately" Disagreement → compromise Disagreement → punishment or shutdown "I trust you" Checking your location / phone Space for other friendships "Why do you need friends when you have me?" Apologizes genuinely Always finds a way to make it your fault Celebrates your wins Feels threatened by your success
Slide 8. RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOURSELF How you treat yourself sets the standard for how you allow others to treat you. Knowing your own values helps you recognize when something feels wrong Feeling complete on your own makes you less likely to stay in something unhealthy out of fear Self-respect isn't about being confident all the time. It's about knowing you deserve basic kindness Healthy self-relationship = better relationships with others.

These slides were made by the TeenWell team for classroom use. Unlike the linked resources below, they are our own material.

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Lesson 1 of 4 in Healthy Relationships. TeenWell doesn't write health information. Every link above goes to the organization that does.