Working with Polyamorous & Non-Monogamous Clients | Therapist Thrival Guide Episode 45

[@laurelb4193]

It’s sooooo not a problem 😅 👌

[@Bria-ms7kz]

I respectfully disagree - if you are in a monogamous relationship and your partner approaches you to say “I’m catching feelings for someone else, can we open up our relationship and be poly?” - that’s a recipe for disaster, bc the asker is already in a state of betrayal. For this therapist to say “those are her things to work on” is dismissive and unfair. Like, that’s only true if that couple had started opening their partnership to other relationships *before* the client’s partner came to her - he (assuming it’s a “he” for some reason) came to her after he was already into someone else - that trust was broken; he had already betrayed her. A better thing for a therapist to do would be to suggest that the client’s partner break off that burgeoning relationship, at least for awhile, while the original couple considers and learns about polyamory from a place of trust and respect. Then perhaps that other, new relationship might be explored again, if client and her partner have decided it’s okay and the work has been put in. For the client’s partner to come to her to ask for something he already was getting into is not honoring his partner’s heart, agency or trust. Signed, a fellow therapist who works within the community

[@Bria-ms7kz]

And again, I say all of that with utmost respect.

[@TherapistThrivalguide]

Thanks for engaging and adding your thoughts here!