Beyond Couples Therapy: Polyamory and Systematic Practice

Beyond Couples Therapy: Polyamory and Systemic Practice

Learning outcomes

1. Understand concepts related to non-monogamy and systemic practice.

2. Understand key tasks in therapy when working with non-monogamous client systems.

3. Learn relational therapy approaches/interventions that can be used with non-monogamous

4. Gain access to skills and strategies for working with clients navigating non-monogamy or wanting to be non-monogamous.

Outline

Gauging exposure to non-monogamy

- Clinical work or training 

- People you know

- Books, blogs, research 

- Media

Focus on polyamory (vs. swinging, kink/bdsm play partners)

- Where there si some form of emotional/romantic/life intertwining

Self-reflection

- Dominant narratives & socialization

- Helps us join our client

- Can reduce knee-jerk judgments

- Helps us step into the shoes of our clients, particularly those who may be unsure, scared, anxious about change

Determining what is wanted

- Highlighting why goals and clarity of what si wanted si so important

- Good relational work takes good leadership

- self-definition/self-awareness grows self-differentiation

Relationship structures

- V structures Triads and quads

- Open relationships (i.e., Monogamish, play partners, hall passes)

- Relationship anarchy

- Hierarchy, non-hierarchical, priorities, power Solo polyamory

Non-monogamous Relationship Agreements

- Experiments vs Rules

- Flexibility, consideration, patience

Instructor

JIMMY G. BRIDGES, PhD, LMFT, CFLE

Pronouns: he/his, they/them

Jimmybridgescoaching@gmail.com