assertiveness

Assertiveness is the capacity to express needs, limits, and feelings clearly and respectfully while honoring others' rights. In therapy, it reflects an "inner adult" stance rooted in self-respect and calm confidence, distinct from passivity or aggression.

Emerging from behavioral and humanistic psychology, assertiveness training focuses on direct communication, boundary-setting, consent language, and self-advocacy. It often addresses patterns like people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, or over-accommodation common after trauma, emphasizing interpersonal effectiveness, autonomy, and the difference between firm limits and hostile control.