Harmful and helpful therapy practices with consensually non-monogamous clients: Toward an inclusive framework.

Abstract

Objective: Drawing on minority stress perspectives, we investigated the therapy experiences of individuals in consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships. Method: We recruited a community sample of 249 individuals engaged in CNM relationships across the U.S. and Canada. Confirmatory factor analysis structural equation modeling were used to analyze client perceptions of therapist practices in a number of exemplary practices (affirming of CNM) or inappropriate practices (biased, inadequate, or not affirming of CNM), and their associations with evaluations of therapy. Open-end responses about what clients found very helpful and very unhelpful were also analyzed. Results: Exemplary and inappropriate practices constituted separate, but related patterns of therapist conduct. As expected, perceptions of exemplary and inappropriate practices predicted therapist helpfulness ratings and whether participants prematurely terminated their therapeutic relationships. Qualitative results point toward the importance of having/pursuing knowledge about CNM and using affirming, nonjudgmental practices. Conclusions: Therapists are positioned to either combat or perpetuate the minority stress faced by individuals engaged in CNM. The results of this study highlight the need for additional research, training, and guidelines regarding CNM clients and their therapy experiences. Harmful and helpful therapy practices with consensually non-monogamous clients: Toward an inclusive frameworkPublic interest-and participation-in consensual non-monogamy (CNM) or, relationship arrangements in which the all partners involved agree to extradyadic sexual and/or romantic relationships), are on the rise. This is evidenced by media coverage (e.g.,

The religious and philosophical characteristics in a consensually nonmonogamous sample

“…Clinical implications for working with this population include adherence to a selection of recommended ethical standards (e.g., Franceschi, 2006;Keener, 2004;Rust, 2003;Schechinger, Sakaluk, & Moors, 2018;Sheff, 2005;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 1999Weitzman, , 2007, similar to working with individuals affiliated with any sexual minority group or identity. However, it is important for providers to remember that, unless clients choose to reveal their multiply partnered status, psychotherapists will not know which individuals are monogamous and which ones are not, so familiarity with the subject of multiply partnered people is as relevant to all clinicians' work as is knowledge of any other group.…”

A Prospective Investigation of the Decision to Open Up a Romantic Relationship

“…Monogamous relationships are generally assumed to be of higher quality (e.g., more loving, committed, and honest) than monogamous ones, even among CNM individuals (Conley, Moors, et al, 2013). It is also not uncommon for therapists to hold anti-CNM views such that they may attribute their CNM clients’ symptoms or problems to their nonmonogamous lifestyle (e.g., Graham, 2014; Schechinger et al, 2018).…”

“How Do They Even Know They Love?” The Image of Polyamory in Polish Expert Discourse

“…There is no research that would directly show how the attitudes and opinions of therapists manifest themselves in the process of therapeutic work with people who are polyamourous. There are only reports on the opinions of therapy clients who live in polyamorous relationships (Henrich & Trawinski, 2016;Schechinger et al, 2018). These accounts allow the cautious hypothesis that the prejudices of therapists, even if they occur, do not necessarily have to be manifested in the course of therapy.…”

“…Some contemporary research suggests that psychotherapists have a positive attitude to polyamory overall (Stavinoha, 2017). Most people who engage in CNM who have sought psychotherapeutic help also report positive experiences as pertains to the therapist's attitude to the client's unconventional relationship style (Schechinger, Sakaluk, & Moors et al, 2018). Nevertheless, respondents listed some negative experiences with therapists: their disbelief in a polyamorous client's attachment to multiple partners; their denying or minimizing of the value of clients' relationships; their attribution of the cause of the presented problem to nonmonogamy; the fact that they sometimes manipulate or apply pressure in order to restore clients to a monogamous lifestyle; and a judgmental and shaming attitude towards CNM (Henrich & Trawinski, 2016;Schechinger et al, 2018).…”