Overcoming Cultural Taboos Around Sexuality

Explore personal values, navigate shame, and create safe spaces for sexual expression. Ready to break free from taboos and embrace your true sexual self? Read on.

Explore personal values, navigate shame, and create safe spaces for sexual expression. Ready to break free from taboos and embrace your true sexual self? Read on.

What New Data Reveals About Our Sex Lives

Although consensual non-monogamy is an old idea, the word “polyamorous” was coined very recently—by a Neopagan witch named Morning Glory, around 1990.

Although consensual non-monogamy is an old idea, the word “polyamorous” was coined very recently—by a Neopagan witch named Morning Glory, around 1990.

Queer Families Need Planning for Loved Ones’ Deaths

Dealing with death can be tricky, but even more so for queer families whose relationships might not be legally recognized. Planning makes a huge difference.

Dealing with death can be tricky, but even more so for queer families whose relationships might not be legally recognized. Planning makes a huge difference.

Have You Negotiated Your Monogamy?

When I ask couples who are monogamous if they have negotiated their monogamy, they look at me with confusion. They think that question should only be for couples who are open.

When I ask couples who are monogamous if they have negotiated their monogamy, they look at me with confusion. They think that question should only be for couples who are open.

5 Misunderstandings About Nonmonogamous Relationships

New research corrects misconceptions about people who participate in consensual but nonexclusive sexual relationships.

New research corrects misconceptions about people who participate in consensual but nonexclusive sexual relationships.

What's the Hierarchy in Multiple-Partner Relationships?

Hierarchy is hard to escape completely in consensual nonmonogamous relationships, as it pops up even if partners say it's not there.

Hierarchy is hard to escape completely in consensual nonmonogamous relationships, as it pops up even if partners say it's not there.

Consensual NonMonogamies and Pride

Some question if CNM qualifies as queer and should be included in Pride festivities, which could help with visibility, rights, and protection from discrimination.

Some question if CNM qualifies as queer and should be included in Pride festivities, which could help with visibility, rights, and protection from discrimination.

What to Know About the World of Group Relationships

Some consensually nonmonogamous relationships, like polygamy, group marriage, polyamory, and relationship anarchy, focus on the group as the center of the relationship.

Some consensually nonmonogamous relationships, like polygamy, group marriage, polyamory, and relationship anarchy, focus on the group as the center of the relationship.

3 Ways That a Couple Can Be Polyamorous

Some consensually nonmonogamous relationships—swinging, monogamish, and hierarchical polyamory—center on a primary couple. That is great for some and offensive to others.

Some consensually nonmonogamous relationships—swinging, monogamish, and hierarchical polyamory—center on a primary couple. That is great for some and offensive to others.

What Threesome Participants Think of MMF and FFM Play

A recent study of people involved in threesomes shows that when they involve romantic partners, most people enjoy them and say they would play that way again.

A recent study of people involved in threesomes shows that when they involve romantic partners, most people enjoy them and say they would play that way again.

Make Choices About Your Relationships That Are Right for You

Healthy, fulfilling relationships can take many paths, but often people aren't aware that they can choose what they want.

Healthy, fulfilling relationships can take many paths, but often people aren't aware that they can choose what they want.

Consensual Nonmonogamies Focused on Individuals

Consensually nonmonogamous relationships take many forms and can be confusing. What are solo poly and relationship anarchy?

Consensually nonmonogamous relationships take many forms and can be confusing. What are solo poly and relationship anarchy?

Skewed Views of Consensual NonMonogamies

Why do some people erroneously assume that all consensually nonmonogamous relationships are malfunctioning? This post explores several reasons for the common phenomenon.

Why do some people erroneously assume that all consensually nonmonogamous relationships are malfunctioning? This post explores several reasons for the common phenomenon.

Could Adding New Partners Help a Couple Find Happiness?

A close colleague dies of Covid, trigging a woman's grief. She then wonders if her life is enough, and arrives at a startling question.

A close colleague dies of Covid, trigging a woman's grief. She then wonders if her life is enough, and arrives at a startling question.

Shared Carework in Polyamorous Families

How do people in polyamorous families share the work of caring for each other, especially when they are children, disabled, ill, old, or dying?

How do people in polyamorous families share the work of caring for each other, especially when they are children, disabled, ill, old, or dying?

Why Many Young People See Polyamory as a Reasonable Strategy

Have young people really ruined monogamy? Or are they just adapting to shifting circumstances?

Have young people really ruined monogamy? Or are they just adapting to shifting circumstances?

3 Facts About Consensual Non-Monogamy

Polyamory, monogamish, open relationships, and consensually non-monogamous relationships are gaining attention from the public and researchers. So, what are they?

Polyamory, monogamish, open relationships, and consensually non-monogamous relationships are gaining attention from the public and researchers. So, what are they?

Neurodiversity and Relationship Variation

An exploration of why neurodiverse people might be especially interested in BDSM and forms of CNM.

An exploration of why neurodiverse people might be especially interested in BDSM and forms of CNM.

How Open Are Westerners to Multi-Partner Marriages?

Multi-partner marriages are banned in the West, but does that extinguish interest in this age-old mating arrangement?

Multi-partner marriages are banned in the West, but does that extinguish interest in this age-old mating arrangement?

8 Reasons People May Pursue Polyamorous Relationships

A recent study examines the motives for polyamory, including the personal, political, and psychodynamic.

A recent study examines the motives for polyamory, including the personal, political, and psychodynamic.

Can Someone Be Both Asexual and Polyamorous?

Some asexual people have polyamorous relationships, and, for others, it is quite unappealing. This post explains asexuality and explores its relationship with polyamory.

Some asexual people have polyamorous relationships, and, for others, it is quite unappealing. This post explains asexuality and explores its relationship with polyamory.

What Makes a Resilient Throuple?

Even though many people anticipate a romantic threesome to include a man and two women, most resilient triads do not fit that form.

Even though many people anticipate a romantic threesome to include a man and two women, most resilient triads do not fit that form.

Common Interaction Patterns Among 3 People

Are you interacting in a group of three? Check out these common dynamics among three people.

Are you interacting in a group of three? Check out these common dynamics among three people.

3 Hidden but Important Relationship Experiences

Have you ever harbored a crush for years or met a great person while you were on vacation? You're not alone.

Have you ever harbored a crush for years or met a great person while you were on vacation? You're not alone.

The Truth About Threesomes, Triads, and Throuples

Sexual relationships among three people fascinate pop culture and are popular among those in consensual non-monogamous relationships with a range of outcomes.

Sexual relationships among three people fascinate pop culture and are popular among those in consensual non-monogamous relationships with a range of outcomes.

Is Ethical Non-Monogamy Right For You?

New research shows that it depends on your motivation.

New research shows that it depends on your motivation.

For Many Polyamorous Relationships, Year 1 Is the Hardest

Why the first year of many polyamorous relationships is challenging and potentially unstable, and how to get through it to longer-term love.

Why the first year of many polyamorous relationships is challenging and potentially unstable, and how to get through it to longer-term love.

The Kids Already Know

The debate around sex education and appropriate content for young people is raging. How should we talk to our kids about the fraught topics they already hear about?

The debate around sex education and appropriate content for young people is raging. How should we talk to our kids about the fraught topics they already hear about?

APA Division 44 Addresses Polyamory

The APA's Committee on Consensual NonMonogamies offers therapists resources to serve CNM clients.

The APA's Committee on Consensual NonMonogamies offers therapists resources to serve CNM clients.

Impacts of Internet Communication on Polyamorous Communities

This third blog post in a series explores the third wave of consensual nonmonogamies in the United States, beginning in the 1990s with the advent of Internet communications.

This third blog post in a series explores the third wave of consensual nonmonogamies in the United States, beginning in the 1990s with the advent of Internet communications.