SET UP™: Designed by Rebecca May
Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, “That could have gone differently?” Or found yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships, friendships, family dynamics, or at work?
What if the difference between connection and conflict, confidence and hesitation, success and disappointment came down to one thing: how you set up?
SET UP is a framework designed by Rebecca May that focuses on preparing intentionally for meaningful interactions and experiences. Whether you’re facing a difficult conversation, navigating a relationship challenge, pursuing a personal goal, or simply trying to understand yourself more deeply, SET UP helps create the conditions for greater awareness, clarity, and success.
Why SET UP Matters
As a psychotherapist, I’ve spent years observing a common theme in human relationships and emotional wellbeing: people often focus on the outcome while overlooking the preparation that leads there.
The conversations we avoid, the boundaries we struggle to set, the assumptions we make, and even the expectations we carry into situations all influence what happens next.
The truth is, we are constantly setting ourselves up.
Sometimes we are setting ourselves up for:
- Connection
- Growth
- Confidence
- Healthy relationships
- Personal success
Other times, without realizing it, we may be setting ourselves up for:
- Misunderstanding
- Conflict
- Disappointment
- Emotional overwhelm
- Repeated patterns that no longer serve us
SET UP encourages us to pause, become intentional, and understand the role we play in creating our experiences.
SET UP in Everyday Life
Friendships and Family Dynamics
Many of our strongest emotional reactions show up in the relationships closest to us.
SET UP provides a framework for approaching family conflicts, friendship challenges, and ongoing interpersonal struggles with greater clarity and intention. By understanding our expectations, communication patterns, and emotional responses, we create opportunities for healthier and more meaningful connections.
In the Workplace
Difficult conversations at work can feel intimidating.
Whether you’re preparing for performance feedback, a professional boundary discussion, leadership responsibilities, or workplace conflict, how you mentally and emotionally prepare can significantly impact the outcome.
SET UP encourages thoughtful preparation that promotes confidence, professionalism, and effective communication. Learning how to set up a conversation well can be the difference between creating resistance and creating an opportunity for growth.
In Personal Development
Sometimes the most important relationship to examine is the one we have with ourselves.
SET UP invites self-reflection by exploring questions such as:
- What beliefs am I carrying into this situation?
- What outcome am I hoping for?
- What am I afraid might happen?
- How can I approach this differently?
- Am I setting myself up for success or unintentionally setting myself up for failure?
These insights often become powerful catalysts for growth, self-awareness, and change.
Want to Learn More?
The SET UP Framework is available through individual telehealth consultations, where clients can explore their relationship patterns, communication styles, personal challenges, and opportunities for growth in a supportive environment.
SET UP is also available for speaking engagements, workshops, and educational presentations. From university students preparing for their future careers to business owners, leaders, and organizations navigating complex workplace relationships, the framework provides practical tools for approaching conversations with intention and confidence.
Understanding how to successfully set up conversations for growth, connection, and success can be life-changing. It can influence how we lead, how we communicate, how we navigate conflict, and how we create meaningful personal and professional relationships.
Book a Telehealth Consultation
If you’re ready to discover more about yourself, better understand the patterns shaping your experiences, and learn how to intentionally set yourself up for success, I invite you to book a telehealth consultation.
Because every relationship, conversation, opportunity, and outcome begins with how we choose to set up.