This handbook provides perspectives across mental health disciplines on clinical work with consensual non-monogamous (CNM) people/relationships from a lens of power, privilege, and oppression. The authors provide a broad-based resource for clinicians, trainees, educators and supervisors in CNM-affirming care, addressing societal and internalized mononormativity and intersections with other forms of oppression (including ableism, racism, cisnormativity, classism). Educators using this volume will find foundational, current data on the experiences of CNM individuals and their relationships, as well as recent theory and empirical research relevant to CNM clients, including the importance of cultural humility within clinical practice. Key topics include developmental approaches to CNM, communities, families and relationships, queerness, emotional experiences, strengths/resilience, as well as ethical issues, training and organizational considerations in work with these clients, emphasizing practical recommendations, insights, and tools to promote CNM-affirming practice across settings.

Michelle D. Vaughan, Ph.D. (she/her) is a white, cisgender, pansexual, queer, able-bodied, polyamorous woman living on the land of the Kaskaski in Dayton, Ohio as an Associate Professor in the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University. She was raised in a white, working-class, rural farm community on the land of the Kikapoo, Kaw/Kansa, in a fundamentalist Christian community embedded in cisheteronormativity, mononormativity and white supremacy. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Baker University and her M.A. (Psychology) and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The University of Akron, as well as post-doctoral fellowship in Addiction at the University of Virginia. She is a counseling psychologist, researcher, author, educator, therapist, and community leader focusing on cultural humility and the strengths of marginalized/oppressed populations throughout her work, centered primarily on queer, transgender and consensually non-monogamous individuals. She also serves as the Executive Director of PolyColumbus, is a member and co-chair within APA Division 44s Committee on Consensual Non-Monogamy.

Theodore R. Burnes, Ph.D. (he/his) is a white, cisgender, queer, able-bodied, man living on the land of the Chumash, Tongva, and Kizh land in Los Angeles, California as a Full Professor in the Clinical Psychology program at Antioch University, Los Angeles in the School of Counseling, Psychology, and Therapy. He was raised in a white, middle class, urban community on the land of the traditional territory of Nacotchtank/Anacostan/Piscataway people in Washington DC. This community was embedded in cisheteronormativity, mononormativity and white supremacy. He earned his B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Bucknell University, M.S.Ed in Psychological and Community Services from the University of Pennsylvaniaa, and M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling/Clinical/School Psychology from The University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a licensed counseling psychologist and licensed professional clinical counselor in the state of California, as well as a researcher, author, educator, therapist, and community leader. His professional work focuses on advocacy, cultural humility, and the experiences of marginalized/oppressed populations in receiving mental health services and how organizations can continue to understand these organizations. His work centered primarily on queer, transgender and individuals who work in the sex industry. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association (in Divisions 17 and 44) and an Associate Editor of Training and Education in Professional Psychology.

Part 1: Foundations

1. Introduction: Towards CNM-Affirming, Anti-Oppressive Clinical Practice (Michelle D. Vaughan)

2. Living outside the BOX: Consensual Non-Monogamies, Intimacies and Communities Notes on Research and Terminology (Christian Klesse & Daniel Cardoso)

3. Stigma and Prejudice Endured by People Engaged in Consensual Non-monogamy (Amy Moors & Ashley Ramos)

4. Polyam Affect: Working with Emotions in CNM (River Farrell)

5. Stronger Together: CNM Resilience, Strengths, and Growth (Michelle D. Vaughan & Ryan G. Witherspoon)

Part 2. Within-Group Differences

6. Consensually Non-Monogamous Families and Their Children (Dena Abbott & Jessica Boyles)

7. Intersectionality in CNM Relationships (Apryl A. Alexander)

8. Disability & CNM relationships (Alex Iantaffi)

9. Queer(ing) Consensual Non-monogamies, Queering Therapy: Queer Intimacy, Kinship, and Experiences of CNM in LGBTQIA+ Lives (Christian Klesse, Leehee Rothschild, & Jaisie Walker)

Part 3: Specific Applications and Contexts

10. Creating a CNM-Affirming Mental Health Agency (Theodore R. Burnes & Alexandra Kropf)

11. Polysourcing: Anti-Oppressive CNM-Affirming clinical training in graduate mental health programs (Michelle D. Vaughan)

12. Ethical Clinical Practice with Consensual Non Monogamous Clients (Elizabeth A. Duke)

13. Developmental Approaches for Clinical Work with CNM Individuals (Cadyn Cathers & Stephanie M. Sullivan)

14. Social Class and Polyamory (Elizabeth Sheff & Hope Smith)

15. Polyperspectives on Anti-Oppressive CNM-Affirming Clinical Practice (Michelle D. Vaughan & Theodore R. Burnes)

Bibliography

Contributor Biographies

The Handbook on Consensual Non-Monogamy provides a much-needed comprehensive overview of what we now know about consensually non-monogamous relationships, drawing on a wide range of academic, therapeutic and activist theories and research. Situating monogamy and non-monogamy appropriately within a current capitalist, colonialist way of relating, this collection foregrounds anti-oppressive and relationship diversity affirming approaches to working with non-monogamous people across intersections. An invaluable resource for all professionals hoping to practice cultural humility around relationships and beyond.
— Meg-John Barker, author of Understanding Non-Monogamies and Rewriting the Rules

Sexuality education everywhere needs a source like this. This is a practical, direct, and informational book for private practices to become sensitized to people in consensual non-monogamous relationships and to better support them.
— Dr. Martha Tara Lee, Relationship Counselor and Clinical Sexologist

Psychotherapists are often hesitant to work with CNM clients, as evidence-based practice is required; however, there is very little clinical research available. The Handbook of Consensual Non-Monogamy: Affirming Mental Health Practice fills this significant gap through a multi-leveled approach in providing effective and anti-oppressive mental-relational health care to CNM clients.
— Carling Mashinter, MSc, registered psychotherapist, Relationship Matters Therapy Centre

This handbook is the most comprehensive, well-researched resource available for clinicians supporting individuals exploring or engaging in consensual non-monogamy (CNM). It is a much-needed, culturally relevant, guiding resource that unifies the latest research with qualitative anecdotes to humanize the lived experience of those practicing consensual non-monogamy. It addresses the knowledge gap that persists in society and the mental health profession about how to care for a sizable minority of individuals seeking services. I am thrilled about the anti-oppressive, intersectional lens of this handbook, and its contribution in the broader context of efforts to provide support to this large and growing marginalized community.
— Heath Schechinger, counseling psychologist, University of California, Berkeley and founding co-chair of the APA Division 44 Committee on Consensual Non-monogamy

There is so little literature that is accessible to the public about CNM that takes a clinical approach. The overall vision of The Handbook on Consensual Non-Monogamy is a comprehensive, engaging improvement to other books on the subject, namely books on CNM that target mental health clinicians as its audience. This book is so necessary for our field, in which CNM and related topics in psychotherapy have been historically under-taught to clinicians.
— Jennifer Schneider, MSW, LICSW, LCSW, therapist and consultant

At long last there is an extensive, comprehensive, and well-written resource for therapists and clinicians whose clients are practitioners of consensual non-monogamies (CNMs). This authoritative work equips counselors to be empowered, educated, and effective, with a framework for treatment that considers intersectionality and how CNM clients and communities experience the dominant culture.
— Teresa Johnson, MA, LPC, BCC

The Handbook of Consensual Non-Monogamy disrupts the narrow narrative about relationships put forth in current sexuality and mental health texts and creates a different dialogue possibility that centers on the wellness of the individual in any type of relationship. This text invites the mental health practitioner to consider the diversity of valid, healthy relationship styles that exist and how they impact the multiple identities of our clients. The perfect guide for every clinician with clients who are practicing consensual non-monogamy, this text lets us meet their needs with skill and grace.
— Joli Hamilton, PhD, CSE, author of Project Relationship

This book offers mental health providers a much-needed exploration of consensual non-monogamy (CNM), viewed through the wider lens of intersectionality. It begins by examining how monogamy-centrism, or mononormativity, is based on white supremacist and heterosexual ideals. CNM is then centered within its own context, exploring the evolving language, family structures and strengths of its participants. Recent literature on CNM is reviewed to give the provider a sense of the needs and concerns of the CNM community. Existing psychological theories and tools are explored in terms of how these might be brought to bear when CNM participants enter the therapy room. A critical eye is then turned within, questioning who has access to the CNM community and who does not, and how access might be expanded for people of varying races, genders, abilities, socioeconomic status, and asexual/aromantic identities. Finally, the mental health clinic is explored, with an eye towards how it too may be made more welcoming to CNM community members, including the unique situations that CNM therapists find themselves within. In sum, this book is a rich, thought-provoking journey into the world of CNM and the many identities within and around it.
— Geri Weitzman, PhD

With this text, Drs. Vaughan and Burnes have created a much-needed resource in the field. Not only will this be a valuable addition to Counseling and Sexuality courses in training programs, but also to clinicians as well. It is an area of our work that has not been addressed as much as it should be and fills a definite gap in the resources.
— Tonya Renee Hammer, associate professor, School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology, Oklahoma State University

Vaughan and Burnes The Handbook of Consensual Non-Monogamy will be a valuable resource for graduate level courses and for clinicians already in practice who want a comprehensive overview of working towards a consensual non-monogamous, anti-oppressive clinical practice.
— Karin Evon Wandrei, PhD, LCSW