Effective responses for healthy communication include active listening, validating others' perspectives, and expressing oneself clearly. Responding with empathy fosters understanding, while open-ended questions encourage further discussion. Involvement is shown by nonverbal indicators like nodding and maintaining eye contact. Giving constructive criticism encourages constructive discourse, and being careful with word choice helps avoid misunderstandings. A balance between assertiveness and receptiveness is necessary for healthy communication because it fosters an atmosphere in which ideas are respectfully shared and connections grow.