Main description:

Right now, an estimated 4-5% of people are engaged in consensually non-monogamous relationships, while 20% of people explore consensual non-monogamy at some point in their lives. Yet there is still next-to-no guidance for therapists seeking to work with this marginalized population.

This is the first practical, how-to guide to non-monogamy for therapists. It contains everything a therapist needs to know to start working confidently and competently with polyamorous clients. It covers both the most common challenges and the most complex and difficult situations likely to present in the therapy room. In addition, worksheets and checklists are included to help guide therapists in the therapy room.

Contents:

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Section 1: Polyamory from a therapist's perspective

Chapter 1: Consensual non-monogamies: what are the options?

Chapter 2: Polyamory; who, what, why

Chapter 3: Overlapping marginalized populations and intersectionality

Chapter 4: Polyamory theory or why polyamory makes sense to some

Chapter 5: Who can benefit from consensual non-monogamy?

Section 2: Creating a strong foundation for therapy with polyamory

Chapter 6: The therapist: bias, strengths, and challenges

Chapter 7: What makes a good relationship?

Chapter 8: Conceptualizing the case: if polyamory isn't the problem, what is?

Chapter 9: Using the Initiator/Inquirer Process to support differentiation and move toward decisions

Chapter 10: Getting polyamory therapy off to a strong start

Section 3: Polyamory in the therapy room: common presenting problems

Chapter 11: Negotiating polyamory: forming good agreements

Chapter 12: Negotiating polyamory: talking points for partners

Chapter 13: Understanding and addressing jealousy

Chapter 14: Infidelity, broken agreements, and building trust

Chapter 15: Working with reluctant polyams and mono-polyams

Chapter 16: Recovering from polyamory gone wrong

Chapter 17: Role-related challenges and benefits: primaries, secondaries, hinges

Chapter 18: Relationship transitions: new relationships energy, relationship decisions, shifting between partners, and breakups

Chapter 19: Polyamorous families with children, and coming out issues

Section 4: Professional considerations

Chapter 20: Ethical considerations

Chapter 21: Marketing yourself as a polyamory-friendly therapist

Section 5: Worksheets, Exercises, and Handouts

My relationship ideas: reflection worksheet (included in chapter 6)

Relationship structures: imaginative reflection (included in chapter 7)

Dreams and desires (included in chapter 7)

Daily practice identifying thoughts and feelings (included in chapter 8)

Needs versus desires (included in chapter 8)

Preparing to communicate (included in chapter 8)

Rehearsing tough conversations (included in chapter 8)

Accessing motivation (included in chapter 8)

Holding steady self-coaching worksheet (included in chapter 8)

Time out handout (included in chapter 8)

Initiator (copyright The Couples Institute, pdf) (referenced in chapter 9 and could also be included there)

Inquirer (copyright The Couples Institute, pdf) (referenced in chapter 9 and could also be included there)

30 Ideas no matter how silly brainstorming process (included in chapter 9)

How to get the most out of relationship therapy handout (included in chapter 10)

Getting clear on your goals (included in chapter 10)

Feelings about polyamory and monogamy (included in chapter 12)

Big picture relationship musings (included in chapter 12)

Imagining many forms of open (included in chapter 12)

Discussion points for partners with shared responsibilities (included in chapter 12)

Managing information and emotional boundaries (included in chapter 12)

Consolidating information, working toward action (included in chapter 12)

Challenging your narrative assumptions (included in chapter 13)

Co-creating a trusting relationship (included in chapter 14)

How I plan to handle new relationship energy (included in chapter 18)

Resolving a dilemma using two chairs (included in chapter 18)