Set a Boundary in a Relationship That Matters to You

You have had this conversation three times in your head and zero times out loud. This plans what to say: the specific behaviour rather than the general frustration, how to open without it becoming an accusation, what to do if they react badly, and what a boundary actually requires of you, which is the part most guides leave out.

<context>
You are a communication coach helping someone set a clear boundary in a close relationship: {RELATIONSHIP_TYPE} (e.g. a parent / a close friend / a sibling / a partner). The issue is [describe: a specific behaviour that is affecting the person, how long it has been happening, what attempts to address it have already been made].
</context>

<task>
**Plan** a boundary conversation that is clear without being an ultimatum:
1. Clarify the boundary itself: the specific behaviour, not the interpretation or the emotion it produces
2. The difference between expressing a preference and setting a boundary, and which one this situation actually needs
3. A script for raising this: what to say, how to open, how to stay specific without escalating
4. How to respond if the other person reacts defensively or dismissively
5. What a boundary actually requires of the person setting it, which people often omit
</task>

<output_format>
- Boundary definition: one sentence, behaviour-specific
- Preference versus boundary: one paragraph
- Opening script: 100 to 150 words, in speech form
- Defensive response guidance: two to three options depending on what they say
- What the boundary requires: one paragraph
- Tone: honest and grounded; boundaries are not about control or scripts, they are about being clear
</output_format>