Request An Appointment

Find a Counselor

  • For:

  • Clinical Services:

  • Locations:

  • Languages:

Let's Get Started
What to Expect
Take an Online Mental Health Screening

Friendship Deal Breakers

Written by: Line Fleming, LPC, M.A.
Friendship Deal Breakers

Are you in middle school or high school? Does making friends in the beginning of the school year stress you out?
There is a lot of anxiety that exists today around making friends at school. Some concerns include “where do I fit in?” and “how do others see me?” As an attempt to fit in, sometimes we make friends with people who are not good for us. These friends can make us feel uncomfortable and get us in trouble. It’s okay to have Friendship Deal Breakers in mind when choosing friends.

Friendship Deal Breakers are qualities to look for in good friendships and relationships. Qualities of a healthy friendship include the following:

1. Honesty
2. Dependability
3. Trustworthy
4. Good Listener
5. Supportive in good times and bad times

Traits to be cautious about include the following:

1. Teases others
2. Talks badly about others
3. Makes fun of others
4. Pressures to do things you are not comfortable doing
5. Purposely excludes others

Being aware and confident about traits you want in a friendship is healthy. It’s okay to say NO to a potential friend who does not present healthy friendship qualities. These Friendship Deal Breakers will help to establish good friendships at school.