Have you ever had a friendship that left you feeling confused, hurt or angry? It’s not only our children who struggle with difficult friendships. Adults can struggle with friendships just as much as our kids. We all have them!

Here are some questions I frequently hear:

How do I tell my friend that he/she has hurt my feelings?

How do I end a friendship? Is this mean?

How do I get over a hurtful experience within a friendship?

These are great questions. Things to consider when seeking solutions are your own patterns (people pleaser, peace maker) and your ability to deal with uncomfortable feelings.

Knowing those answers will also help us be a role model for our children on how to handle difficult friendships. At times we need to know how to speak our mind.  At times we need to know how to set boundaries. At times we need to be able to end a toxic relationship.

It is very important to get clarity on all of our relationships so that we can feel empowered in them. Remember that whenever one friendship ends it opens the door for other relationships to enter. Change is not a negative.

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Licensed counselor and founder of Girls Stand Strong Michelle Kelley, LCSW, helps girls and women of all ages develop and improve their self-image, self-esteem, relationship and communication skills, emotional understanding, coping skills, the ability to handle difficult situations and people, and resiliency to create a brighter, better and more successful tomorrow. For more information about Michelle’s coaching and counseling services, call (703) 505-2413 or email michelle@girlsstandstrong.com.