A Therapist’s Guide to Polyamory: Understanding poly relationships and confronting bias to provide more competent care.

About the workshop

Do you feel comfortable working with polyamorous clients? Do you know how to respond when a client comes out to you as poly? Have you done your own work to address unconscious bias toward non-monogamy?

Polyamory as a relationship structure is becoming more common and recognized. Being a competent provider is about more than being accepting and open-minded. People who identify as polyamorous desire providers with an understanding of poly vocabulary and relationship structures, who can see past cultural assumptions and bias to offer effective care.

This training will provide you with an understanding of polyamory as an ethical practice, an exploration of its benefits, and clinical strategies to address common challenges. We will examine cultural assumptions about relationships, the assumption of monogamy in counseling education, and implicit bias on the part of therapists.

Attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of the skills and awareness required to successfully support polyamorous clients.

Approved for 4 CE hours

Who should attend

Counselors, social workers, family therapists, and other helping professionals who want to become more competent in supporting clients who identify as polyamorous.

Learning Objectives

After attending this training, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of relationship models, norms, and language commonly used within polyamorous communities


• Identify the ways in which polyamorous people face social and legal discrimination


• Recognize culturally based assumptions about monogamy vs. polyamory and how counselor bias can influence the therapeutic work with polyamorous clients


• Utilize clinical skills to support polyamorous clients through challenges related to polyamory

Policies

General Refund/Cancelation Policy: Full refunds are available for cancelations up to one week before the program date. For cancelations within one week of the program date, no refund will be given.

Complaints/Grievances Policy: I seek to ensure equitable treatment of every person and to resolve grievances in a fair and timely manner. If a participant or potential participant would like to express a concern about their experience with my class or with me, they may call me at 503-490-1906 or email at heidi@savellcounseling.com. Although I cannot guarantee a particular outcome, the individual can expect me to consider the complaint, make any necessary decisions, and respond within 3 business days.

Accessibility: Keystone Commons is ADA accessible. Individuals needing to request accommodations can contact me at heidi@savellcounseling.com at least two weeks prior to the event.

About the venue

Keystone Commons is a commercial building in the Gateway District of East Portland created to support radical and transformative counseling work.

A Therapist’s Guide to Polyamory: Understanding poly relationships and confronting bias to provide more competent care has been approved by NBCC for NBCC credit. Heidi Savell, LCSW CADC I is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. NBCC Approval No. SP-3307.