#243: How to Create Healthy, Balanced Relationships with Nedra Glover Tawwab

#243: How to Create Healthy, Balanced Relationships with Nedra Glover Tawwab

From On Attachment by Stephanie Rigg

March 24, 2026 · 44 min · Season 1 · Episode 243

About this episode

The episode features a discussion on creating healthy, balanced relationships with therapist Nedra Glover Tawwab, focusing on the spectrum between codependency and hyper-independence.

In this episode, I’m joined by therapist, bestselling author, and boundaries expert Nedra Glover Tawwab for a powerful conversation on what it really means to have healthy dependency in our relationships. So many of us find ourselves swinging between two extremes — overgiving, people-pleasing, and losing ourselves in others… or shutting down, becoming hyper-independent, and struggling to let anyone in. But what does the middle ground actually look like? Together, we explore the spectrum between codependency and hyper-independence, and how both patterns — while protective — can ultimately leave us feeling disconnected and unfulfilled. This conversation goes beyond romantic relationships. We talk about friendships, family, community, and the importance of having a diverse support system rather than expecting one person to meet all of our needs. We also unpack: Why “healthy dependency” isn’t a weakness, but a fundamental human need How codependency and hyper-independence develop as adaptations The role of boundaries in creating sustainable, respectful relationships Why over-focusing on the why behind someone’s behaviour can keep us stuck How to stop over-functioning in relationships…

People in this episode

Host: Stephanie Rigg

Guest: Nedra Glover Tawwab

Topics covered

  • healthy relationships
  • boundaries
  • codependency
  • hyper-independence
  • support systems
  • dependency

Keywords

  • healthy dependency
  • relationships
  • boundaries
  • support system
  • codependency
  • hyper-independence
  • over-functioning
  • connection

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