Boundaries, Self-Worth & Communication

Finding Your Voice — Without Losing Yourself
When you’ve spent years keeping the peace, saying no can feel impossible. You might constantly weigh other people’s needs above your own, or worry that setting limits will make you seem selfish, cold, or unkind.
But boundaries aren’t about pushing people away — they’re about learning how to stay connected without abandoning yourself.
Therapy can help you build the confidence to speak up, ask for what you need, and stop apologizing for existing.

Does this sound familiar?

  • You often say yes when you mean no — and end up feeling resentful or drained.
  • You replay conversations, wondering if you were “too much” or “not enough.”
  • You find yourself over-explaining, people-pleasing, or shrinking to avoid conflict.
  • You take on emotional responsibility for others and struggle to put yourself first.
  • When someone sets a boundary with you, it can feel like rejection or abandonment.
  • Living abroad, you feel extra pressure to fit in, be easygoing, or not cause tension — even when it costs you your peace.

If this sounds familiar, therapy can help you reconnect with your values, strengthen your self-worth, and create relationships that feel mutual — not one-sided.

Meet Your Therapist

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Hi - I'm Christina Babich, MA.
I’m a Clinical Psychologist who helps people rebuild self-trust, communicate with clarity, and create relationships that feel balanced and mutual.

Before becoming a therapist, I lived and worked in several countries, navigating new cultures, languages, and expectations. I know how easy it is to slip into over-adapting — to become who others need you to be rather than who you actually are. Those experiences, along with my clinical training in DBT, CBT, and ACT, shaped the foundation of my work: helping people find steadiness inside themselves, even when life around them keeps shifting.

In therapy, we focus on learning how to express needs without guilt, set limits without losing connection, and communicate from a place of calm confidence. I believe boundaries aren’t barriers — they’re bridges to more honest, sustainable relationships.

If you’ve spent years trying to be easy, accommodating, or endlessly available, it’s okay to start choosing yourself — not as an act of defiance, but as an act of care.

How Boundary Struggles Affect Us

When we don’t have clear boundaries, it’s easy to lose ourselves in other people’s needs, expectations, or moods. Over time, this can leave you feeling resentful, drained, or invisible — even in relationships that matter most to you.
Some common signs of boundary fatigue include:
  • Saying yes when you mean no, out of guilt or fear of conflict
  • Feeling responsible for other people’s emotions or happiness
  • Avoiding difficult conversations to “keep the peace”
  • Over-explaining or apologizing for having needs
  • Feeling anxious, resentful, or exhausted after social interactions
  • Struggling to trust yourself or know what you actually want
Many people mistake boundaries for rejection or control — but they’re actually about connection. They protect your energy so you can show up more fully and authentically in your life and relationships.

How I Help

Therapy for boundaries and self-worth isn’t about becoming cold or distant — it’s about learning how to stay kind without abandoning yourself. Together, we’ll look at what makes setting limits hard and build the emotional tools to communicate clearly, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Here’s how we’ll work together:
  • DBT & Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills – You’ll learn how to ask for what you need, set limits, and navigate conflict calmly — skills that make relationships feel safer and more balanced.
  • Self-Worth & Core Beliefs Work – We’ll uncover the beliefs (“I have to earn love,” “I can’t upset people”) that keep you stuck in over-giving patterns, and replace them with grounded confidence.
  • Mindfulness & Nervous System Regulation – You’ll practice noticing early signs of overwhelm and using tools to stay centered when old people-pleasing habits kick in.
  • Values-Based Communication (ACT) – You’ll learn to speak from your values, not from fear or guilt — expressing what’s true without apology.
Boundaries aren't about shutting people out — they’re about letting the right people in, and showing up in your relationships as your most authentic self.

How It Works

1
Free Consultation
A ~15-minute call to discuss what’s been hardest — overgiving, guilt, or communication struggles — and see if we’re a good fit.
2
Intake & Mapping
In our first full session, we’ll explore where your boundary struggles come from — family patterns, past relationships, or the pressure to adapt to new environments. Together we’ll clarify what healthy, self-respecting boundaries could look like for you.
3
Weekly Therapy
‍We’ll meet weekly (or as agreed) to practice DBT and ACT-based skills for emotional regulation, assertive communication, and self-worth. You’ll learn to notice early signs of burnout or resentment and respond from calm, grounded confidence.
4
Integration & Maintenance
As you begin to feel more confident setting limits and expressing your needs, sessions gradually space out. We’ll focus on maintaining your progress — strengthening your sense of self, staying regulated, and communicating with authenticity long-term.

What You Can Expect

Clients often say they:
  • Feel calmer and more confident saying what they actually mean
  • Notice resentment and guilt fading as they practice new skills
  • Recognize early signs of overwhelm before burnout hits
  • Build relationships that feel more mutual and less draining
  • Start trusting themselves — and their limits — again

Frequently Asked Questions About Boundaries

Do I need to be “bad at boundaries” to start therapy?

Not at all. Many clients come to therapy because they’re tired of overthinking how to say no, or of giving too much. You don’t need to hit a breaking point — therapy can help you build balance before that happens.

What if setting boundaries feels selfish or mean?

That’s one of the most common fears. Boundaries aren’t about rejection — they’re about respect, for yourself and others.
They’re how we stay connected without losing ourselves. In therapy, we’ll explore how to express your needs with calm honesty — not defensiveness — so your relationships can feel more balanced and mutual.

What if people don’t respond well when I start setting boundaries?

That can happen — especially if you’ve been the “easy one” for a long time.
Therapy helps you stay grounded when others push back, and supports you in learning that discomfort doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It usually means you’re doing something new.

I already know my boundaries — I just can’t seem to hold them. Why?

Knowing your limits is one thing; trusting yourself to honor them is another.
We’ll look at what gets in the way — fear, guilt, people-pleasing, old conditioning — and help you strengthen your self-trust so boundaries become something you live, not just think about.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?
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Complete the contact form HERE.
‍Let me know what you are struggling with and what you are hoping to get out of therapy. If you’re unsure how to define what you’re experiencing, that’s completely fine — you can still reach out. We begin with a free 15-minute consultation to determine whether we are a good fit to work together.

What is your fee?
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My fee is 90 euros for one 50-minute session.

Do you offer sliding scale sessions?
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I offer a limited number of sliding-scale spaces for clients with financial constraints. These spots fill quickly, so please inquire about current availability when reaching out.

What is your cancellation policy?
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Due to the very limited nature of appointments, you will be charged the full fee for cancellations with less than a 48-hour notice. I reserve your therapy time just for you, and last-minute cancellations do not allow me enough time to schedule someone else in that slot.

Is there anything outside of your scope?
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Because I value honesty and integrity, I believe it’s important to be upfront about both my areas of expertise and the limits of my practice. No therapist can be an expert in everything, and ethically, we should only work within the areas we’re trained and experienced in.

I work with individual adults (18+), focusing on anxiety, trauma, grief, emotional regulation, and life transitions. Many of my clients are navigating the aftermath of traumatic experiences, burnout, relationship challenges, or the emotional toll of expat and nomad life.

There are certain areas, however, that fall outside my scope of practice. If any of the following apply, I will help you find a more suitable level of care or refer you to a trusted specialist:
• Active suicidal or homicidal thoughts, with a current plan or intent
• Ongoing self-harm behaviours (e.g., cutting, burning)
• Significant substance use or addiction requiring medical or inpatient support
• Psychotic symptoms (such as hallucinations or delusions)
• Psychological or diagnostic testing needs. Note: I am partnered with Mind Clinic in Budapest (www.mind.hu). This clinic offers robust psychological and diagnostic testing remotely via video.
• Full DBT programs requiring group skills training or 24/7 phone coaching

While I draw from DBT principles in my work, I do not offer a full DBT program. If that level of support is needed, I’ll refer you to an appropriate community program that provides it.
My goal is always to ensure you receive care that truly fits your needs — whether that’s with me or with another qualified professional.

Do you offer in-person sessions?
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My practice is 100% virtual. I offer online therapy via a secure Zoom link.
This allows me to reach more people who could benefit from working with me. It also allows my clients the flexibility to fit therapy into their busy lives without having to commute to a physical office.

Is your practice LGBTQ+ friendly?
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Yes. My practice is fully LGBTQ+ affirming and inclusive. I welcome clients of all gender identities, sexual orientations and relationship structures, and I am committed to providing a space where you can show-up exactly as you are - without judgement or assumption.

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e-mail :
‍christinababich@hotmail.com

Substack: christinababich.substack.com
Located in Europe