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Opening Up: A Therapist’s Guide to Ethical Non-Monogamy

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samantha

man in white dress shirt sitting beside woman in white long sleeve shirt

Who Is Bronwyn?

In their private practice, Bronwyn specialises in ethical non-monogamy (ENM) and chronic illness. They feel passionately about providing a service that is positively aligned with the neurodivergent, LGBTQI+, kink, and BDSM communities.

In 2022, the release of their first book, “The Beginner’s Guide to Ethical Non-monogamy,” which marked a significant milestone in their career.

Episode Summary

  • Bronwyn explains what Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM) and Polyamory is and we explore what that caveat of ‘ethical’ means for these relationships.
  • I ask Bronwyn how she found herself working in the space of Poly relationships.
  • Bronwyn shares about the impact of clients who have had negative therapy experiences with a therapist that doesn’t understand ENM.
  • We discuss why there is such a stigma attached to diverse relationships structures and anything outside the social norms.
  • Bronwyn shares why she doesn’t think that ENM is a trend and how having language means we see it more.
  • I ask Bronwyn what some of the presentations are that come into the room for ENM relationships. We also discuss why it can be necessary for some therapists to refer on.
  • We discuss what it is like for currently monogamous relationships to change to ENM.
  • Bronwyn talks about the misconception that you can’t have a committed, secure, and stable ENM relationship and how it is connected to attachment.
  • I ask Bronwyn where we are getting misconceptions around ENM from and the role of the media.
  • Bronwyn normalises some people’s capacity to love more than one person or have sexual relationships with multiple people.
  • I ask Bronwyn what it is like Inside the Therapy Room in an ENM or Polyamorous relationship.
  • Bronwyn talks about what it is like for loved ones of those in ENM relationships and how she supports this group of people.
  • I ask Bronwyn about the myth that jealousy is both automatic and bad for ENM relationships.
  • And finally, Bronwyn smashes a myth about ENM relationships.