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Overview Of Consensual Non-Monogamy
Title of Event:
Overview Of Consensual Non-Monogamy
Description of Event:
This four hour webinar will be a comprehensive training for sex therapists and aspiring sex therapists working with clients engaged in consensual nonmonogamy. Although the prevailing relationship paradigm in modern Western culture is lifelong monogamous pair binding, that model is increasingly challenged by people who question the wisdom of both sexual and romantic monogamy. In fact, recent surveys suggest that 5% of North American adults have participated in consensual nonmonogamy at some point and 1% are currently involved in a CNM relationship. Therapists are increasingly challenged to work with clients who have already ventured into CNM territory as well as those who want to open their marriages and try it.
This webinar will teach participants the history of consensual nonmonogamy and monogamy, and the various rationales and philosophies that underly different relationship forms. They will learn to distinguish between several forms of consensual nonmonogamy and the types of people likely to engage in each form. Students will be exposed to the research on consensual nonmonogamy and the people who practice it. They will learn the clinical issues common to clients practicing CNM, and the clinical issues surrounding couples attempting to ‘open up’ a relationship. Participants will leave with the tools necessary to help clients with nonmonogamous relationships. Didactic/PowerPoint presentation supplemented with case examples, video.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the history of monogamy and nonmonogamy in human societies and the various rationales and beliefs attached to these relationship forms
- Be able to enumerate the various forms of consensual nonmonogamy, their characteristics, and the types of people most likely to engage in each
- Know the clinical issues most likely to present when working with CNM clients, and how to approach them
- Have the skills needed to help monogamous couples who want to ‘open up’ their relationship – how to educate them, steer them in the right direction – and when to advise against opening up.
Activity Schedule:
Hour One
Introduction of speaker and the topic
Theories about the origin of nonmonogamy – and monogamy- in early human culture
Cross-cultural info on relationship models currently in existence
History of U.S. attempts at nonmonogamous communities
Hour Two
Research on consensual nonmonogamy -incidence, demographics
Qualitative research on CNM, research on kids
Types of CNM
Types of CNM, continued
Hour Three
Video, case – Adele and Lance
Video case, continued
Other issues CNM clients may encounter
Case examples, other issues
Hour Four
How to open up a relationship
How NOT to open a relationship (Marty Klein Video)
Case examples
Wrap up, summary
Speaker Bio:
Dr. Margaret (Margie) Nichols is a queer-identified psychotherapist, writer, activist, and educator with over forty years of experience working in the LGBT+ community. She is a licensed psychologist, AASECT certified sex therapy supervisor, and WPATH GEI Mentor.
Date of Event: Sunday, August 17, 2025
Time of Event: 9AM - 1PM EST
Location: Online Synchronous or Online Asynchronous following the live webinar
Presenter/Speaker: Margie Nichols, PhD
Company/Organization Sponsor: Modern Sex Therapy Institutes (MSTI)
Contact Name: Rachel Needle
Contact Telephone Number: (561) 379-7207
Contact Email: info@modernsextherapy.com
AASECT Approved CEs: 4