Expired Issues for Clients and Therapists: Counseling Consensually Non-Monogamous Relationships

This workshop will list and explain different variations of consensual non-monogamy (CNM) and identify which types tend to work in which kind of relationships or personalities and when they are not a good fit.

Dr. Elisabeth Sheff will distinguish issues for clients in CNM relationships and separate out issues for therapists serving CNM clients. Participants will apply the ideas of therapeutic bias and compulsory monogamy to their own lives and families of origin. 

Learning Objectives:

• Define consensual non-monogamies and distinguish them from non-consensual non-monogamy/cheating.
• Identify issues that commonly arise for clients in CNM relationships.
• Analyze the impacts of compulsory monogamy and bias in therapeutic training and practice.

Presenter:

Elisabeth Sheff, PhD, CSE, is CEO of Sheff Consulting; foremost expert on polyamorous families with children with a 20+ year study; author of 3 books and 20+ journal articles and chapters; educator; speaker; academic and relationship coach; ghostwriter; and expert witness for sex and gender minorities. Formerly tenure-track professor and Court Appointed Special Advocate in Fulton County Juvenile Court.