Supporter boundaries

Supporters are most effective when their role is clear and bounded. If someone begins to rely on real-time check-ins, constant reassurance, or your presence as a prerequisite for going out, that reliance can limit rather than expand their range.

It helps to name your availability upfront: when you typically reply, what kinds of messages work best, and what falls outside the scope of supporter support (clinical questions, emergencies, decisions about treatment).

Stepping back occasionally — asking what the person would do if you were not available — can help them identify their own resources. This is not withdrawal; it is part of building independence.