Real Talk: Building Healthy Relationships That Last
Learn to Love Yourself and Connect with Others Authentically
Real Skills for Real Relationships
Relationships — with friends, family, partners, and yourself — are some of the most important parts of life. Yet most of us never learn the actual skills needed to make them healthy, lasting, and fulfilling. We just figure it out as we go, often making the same mistakes over and over.
Real Talk is different. This 8-week program creates a safe space to explore what makes relationships work, learn practical communication and boundary-setting skills, and discover how to show up authentically in every connection. Through interactive activities, honest discussions, and real-world practice, you'll build the foundation for relationships that actually last.
Whether you're navigating friendships, family dynamics, dating, or just trying to understand yourself better, this group gives you the tools to connect with confidence and care.
Founding Cohort - Join Us in Launching This Program
We're bringing this relationship skills program to Douglas County youth for the first time, and we want you to be part of it from the start.
As a new nonprofit, we're building our inaugural cohort and creating sustainable community programming. When you register, you're not just joining a group — you're helping establish something that will serve young people in our community for years to come.
What you need to know:
- We need 9 committed participants to launch (ensures quality group dynamics and safe sharing space)
- Registration is open now; program starts when cohort fills
- Expected timeline: Launch within 4-8 weeks of reaching minimum enrollment
- You'll be contacted to confirm scheduling before we finalize dates
- Founding members receive priority consideration for future cohorts
Current Status: Building our first cohort now
Interactive, Not Lecture-Based
Forget sitting in rows taking notes. Every session includes:
- Movement and games - Learn through doing, not just listening
- Real scenarios - Practice with situations you actually face
- Creative activities - Express yourself through art, writing, and reflection
- Small group sharing - Safe spaces to be vulnerable
- Role-play and practice - Try new skills before using them in real life
- Community building - Form genuine connections with peers
This is a judgment-free zone where mistakes are learning opportunities and every voice matters.
Eight Weeks, Eight Essential Skills
Throughout this program, you'll explore:
Communication - Speaking and listening with heart
Boundaries - Respecting yourself and others
Trust - Building and maintaining connection
Identity - Understanding who you are in relationships
Conflict - Fighting fair without causing damage
Self-Worth - Loving yourself as the foundation
Recognition - Spotting healthy vs. unhealthy patterns
Connection - Creating relationships that fulfill and support you
8-Week Curriculum
Creating Safety and Connection
Start strong by building community, establishing trust, and setting the foundation for honest sharing throughout the program.
Topics Covered:
- What makes relationships healthy, unhealthy, or toxic?
- Creating safety in vulnerability
- Building trust within the group
- Setting group agreements together
Activities:
- "Speed Friending" warm-up game with fun partner rounds
- "The Web of Connection" - yarn toss activity showing how we're all connected
- Group discussion on relationship definitions
- Collaborative group agreement creation
Identity and Self-Awareness
Before you can have healthy relationships with others, you need to understand yourself — your values, patterns, strengths, and areas for growth.
Topics Covered:
- Self-awareness as the foundation of healthy relationships
- How your identity shows up in relationships
- Understanding what you bring (positive and challenging)
- Recognizing patterns from past relationships
Activities:
- "Who Am I?" collage or identity mapping
- Red/Yellow/Green movement activity: agree/disagree on relationship values
- Small group sharing about relationship strengths and challenges
- "Relationship Backpack" exercise: what are you carrying from the past?
Expressing and Hearing with Respect
Learn how to say what you mean, hear what others are really saying, and communicate in ways that build connection instead of creating distance.
Topics Covered:
- Clear, kind, and honest communication
- Active listening techniques
- Expressing difficult emotions and needs
- I-statements vs. You-statements
Activities:
- Emotion Charades game
- "Echo, Reflect, Validate" partner listening practice
- Mini skits: practicing hard conversations with prompts
- Communication technique demonstrations and practice
Saying Yes and No with Confidence
Boundaries aren't walls — they're the guidelines that help relationships thrive. Learn to set them, respect them, and navigate what happens when they're crossed.
Topics Covered:
- What boundaries are and why they matter
- Physical, emotional, and digital boundaries
- Consent in all relationships
- How to set and maintain boundaries
Activities:
- "Boundary Bingo" or "Where's the Line?" voting game
- Design your "Personal Bubble" creative poster
- Role-play: setting boundaries in real scenarios (phones, parents, dating, friends)
- "Boundary Ladder" tool: from discomfort to action
Handling Disagreements Without Damage
Conflict is inevitable. Damage isn't. Learn tools to navigate tension, disagreement, and hurt feelings in ways that strengthen rather than destroy relationships.
Topics Covered:
- Why conflict happens and what it reveals
- Conflict styles and patterns
- De-escalation techniques
- Repairing relationships after conflict
Activities:
- "Would You Rather: Conflict Edition" icebreaker
- Realistic conflict role-plays (family, friends, relationships)
- "Freeze, Flee, Fight, Flow" - stress response movement activity
- Conflict Style Quiz and Repair Checklist
Spotting Healthy and Unhealthy Patterns
Trust your instincts and learn to recognize the early warning signs of unhealthy relationships — and the positive traits that signal safety and respect.
Topics Covered:
- Identifying red flags, yellow flags, and green flags
- Trusting your gut feeling
- Patterns in healthy vs. unhealthy relationships
- When to stay, when to work on it, when to leave
Activities:
- Card sort: categorize relationship behaviors as green/yellow/red flags
- Video clip analysis: rate relationships in media
- Create your own "Green Flag Partner/Friend" poster
- Sharing circle: "When have you ignored a red flag?" (optional)
Loving Yourself as the Foundation
You can't pour from an empty cup. Build confidence, practice self-compassion, and release shame that keeps you from showing up fully in relationships.
Topics Covered:
- Self-worth vs. external validation
- How self-love affects all relationships
- Releasing shame and negative self-beliefs
- Building confidence from the inside out
Activities:
- Mirror Talk Exercise: affirmations to yourself
- "Dear Younger Me" or "Future You" letter writing
- Group reflection: releasing beliefs that no longer serve you
- "Worth Board" creation: affirming your qualities
Reflect, Celebrate, and Look Forward
Bring it all together, celebrate your growth, and prepare to take these skills into your real relationships with confidence.
Topics Covered:
- Reviewing skills learned
- Creating your personal relationship philosophy
- Continuing the work beyond the group
- Celebrating growth and connection
Activities:
- "Relationship Relay" - stations reviewing skills from each week
- Reflection journaling: what you've learned about love, boundaries, and yourself
- Compliment/Strength Circle: receiving affirmations from group
- Optional group keepsake creation (poster, video, collaborative project)
Weekly Sessions (90 minutes)
What You'll Gain
Self-Awareness Understand your patterns, triggers, and what you bring to relationships.
Communication Skills Express yourself clearly and listen with genuine care and understanding.
Boundary Mastery Set and maintain healthy limits with confidence and without guilt.
Conflict Navigation Handle disagreements in ways that strengthen rather than damage relationships.
Pattern Recognition Spot red flags early and recognize truly healthy connections.
Self-Worth Build confidence from within, not from external validation.
Authentic Connection Show up as your real self and create relationships that actually fulfill you.
Practical Tools Take home techniques you can use immediately in every relationship.
This Group is For You If:
- You're ages 13-23
- You want healthier friendships, family relationships, or romantic connections
- You struggle to set boundaries or say no
- You've been hurt in past relationships and want to do better
- You want to understand yourself better
- You're tired of relationship drama and want real connection
- You need tools for communication and conflict
- You're ready to grow in a supportive community
Perfect for:
- Teens navigating first relationships
- Young adults building independence
- Anyone recovering from unhealthy relationships
- People who want to break negative patterns
- Those seeking authentic community and support
Investment
Accessible Relationship Education
8-week program: $160 total ($20 per session) Payment plans available. Scholarships offered based on need — no one turned away.
Included:
- 8 weekly 90-minute sessions
- All materials and creative supplies
- Reflection journals and handouts
- Tools and worksheets to take home
- Safe community and lasting connections
- Certificate of completion
Founding Cohort Schedule
01
Currently Enrolling
Program Details:
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Session Length: 90 minutes
- Location: TBD
- Anticipated Start: July 2026
- Age Groups: We may split into 13-17 and 18-23 groups depending on registrations
When you register, we'll:
- Confirm your spot in the founding cohort
- Keep you updated as enrollment progresses
- Survey scheduling preferences once cohort is nearly full
- Confirm final dates 2 weeks before start
Frequently Asked Question
We're committed to launching this program and will actively recruit until we reach our minimum. If enrollment takes longer than expected, we'll keep you informed. You can withdraw your registration at any time before the cohort launches if timing doesn't work for you.
We'll email you regular updates on enrollment progress. Once we're close to our minimum, we'll reach out to confirm scheduling and your continued interest before finalizing dates.
We ask for commitment to help us plan, but we understand circumstances change. You can withdraw before the cohort launches if needed. Once the program starts, consistent attendance is important for group trust and cohesion.
You share what you're comfortable sharing. We create space for vulnerability but never force it. Many activities can be completed privately.
Perfect! These skills apply to friendships, family, future relationships, and most importantly, your relationship with yourself.
Not at all. This is for anyone who wants to build healthier relationships — whether you're struggling or just want to grow.
No. We maintain confidentiality unless there's a safety concern (harm to self or others). What's shared in group stays in group.
Many participants feel this way at first. We build trust gradually and offer different ways to participate. You're never put on the spot.
Yes! Many find it helpful to attend with a friend. Just both register separately.
We may split into age-specific groups (13-17 and 18-23) depending on registrations to ensure developmentally appropriate discussions.