Expired Clinical Practice with Clients in Consensually NonMonogamous Relationships

This workshop first identifies the six most common forms of consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) practiced in the United States today and details the relationships for which they function well and the ways in which they can malfunction. Next this workshop explains the tremendous potential for clinicians to have bias about monogamy and CNM from cultural conditioning and past personal experiences and provides clinicians an opportunity to discuss their reactions and ways to mitigate potential bias. Finally this workshop closes with discussion of best practices for serving CNM clients and time for questions.

Learning Objectives:

• To be able list at least three types of CNM relationships
• To be able to identify at least three issues for which clients in CNM relationships seek therapeutic assistance
• To be able to identify at least three barriers to CNM clients receiving culturally appropriate care

Presenter:

Elisabeth “Eli” Sheff, PhD, CSE is a researcher, expert witness, coach, speaker, and educational consultant. With a PhD in Sociology and certification as a Sexuality Educator from AASECT, Dr. Eli specializes in gender and sexual minority families, consensual non-monogamy, and kink/BDSM. Sheff is the foremost academic expert on polyamorous families with children, and her 25+ year Polyamorous Family Study is the only longitudinal study of poly families with children to date. Dr. Eli has served as faculty at seven universities and currently chairs the CNM Legal Issues Team for the American Psychological Association, Division 44 Committee on CNM. Dr. Eli has published four books and over 25 journal articles and chapters, and is currently editing a series of books on relationship and sexual diversity.

AASECT Continuing Education Information