“My mind kept creeping back… this relationship can’t last”: Developing self-awareness of monogamous bias

ABSTRACT

Therapists who identify as monogamous can hold implicit beliefs about the nature of relationships. Such biases can overshadow the therapeutic process and impede consensually non-monogamous clients from receiving meaningful services. This article provides a brief introduction to polyamorous relationships, as well as, concepts tied to the pervasive nature of compulsory monogamy in family therapy. Readers are then invited to engage in experiential exercises designed to bring awareness to the implicit biases that they might hold about monogamy and polyamory. The article ends with suggestions for therapists who are interested in developing a polyamorous affirmative clinical practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Compulsory monogamy and polyamory
• experiential exercises
• monogamous bias
• queer theory