Consensual Non-Monogamy
Developing healthy & authentic connections in open dynamics
Polyamory, or consensual non-monogamy, provides the opportunity to explore love and connections with more than one partner, with honesty, consent, and open communication being foundational elements. These arrangements emphasize the importance of autonomy, mutual respect, and understanding, allowing participants to experience diverse emotional and intimate relationships while maintaining transparency and trust among all involved.
Polyamory is not infidelity, and infidelity is not polyamory. Neither is polyamory a solution for a relationship problem. Polyamory is a consensual and ethical approach to relationships. It supports participants in their own self-discovery journey and fosters personal growth by embracing the complexity of human connections.
I support clients navigating conversations, concerns and conflicts when one partner poses shifting a relationship structure from monogamy to open. I do not advocate for one partner’s position. Instead, I support you in figuring out the kind of relationship you want to cultivate and assist you in co-creating it. I assist you in hearing each other deeply and in finding your way through to the other side.
I provide a safe environment to explore these dynamics, offering guidance and support.
Some common areas of exploration include…
Communication Skills: Enhancing open, honest, and effective communication among partners. This includes learning to express needs, desires, and boundaries clearly and listening actively.
Jealousy Management: Understanding and addressing feelings of jealousy, which can be common in non-monogamous relationships. This involves exploring the roots of jealousy and developing strategies to cope with these emotions in a healthy way.
Boundary Setting: Identifying and establishing personal and relational boundaries. Counseling can help clarify limits and expectations, ensuring boundaries are respected.
Negotiation and Consent: Facilitating discussions around consent and agreements to ensure that relationships and interactions are consensual and clearly understood by everyone involved.
Conflict Resolution: Providing tools and strategies for resolving conflicts that may arise due to the complexities of polyamorous relationships.
Time Management: Helping individuals manage their time effectively to ensure that relationships receives adequate attention and nurturing.
Emotional Support: Offering emotional support for the unique challenges that can arise in polyamorous relationships, such as societal judgment, family pressures, or the emotional labor of managing multiple relationships.
Identity and Self-Discovery: Supporting individuals in exploring their own identities and how their polyamorous relationships reflect and influence their sense of self.
Transition and Change Management: Assisting individuals and groups in navigating transitions within their relationships, such as adding or losing partners, moving from monogamy to non-monogamy, or other significant changes.
Family and Social Dynamics: Exploring the impact of polyamorous relationships on family, children, and social circles, including strategies for communication and maintaining healthy relationships with those outside the polyamorous unit.
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“It turns out that it takes some next-level relationship skills to really thrive in a polyamorous relationship. I want to say that it takes some next-level relationship skills to really thrive in any relationship.” ― Martha Kauppi, LMFT
