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Toward Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Consensually Non-monogamous Clients: Results from a Mixed-Method Analysis of Therapy Practices and Outcomes
Schechinger, Heath
Schechinger, Heath
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Abstract
An estimated 4-5% of Americans endorse being in a consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationship--numbers comparable to those identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB; Conley, Moors, Matsick, & Ziegler, 2012; Gates, 2011). Despite the pervasive stigma associated with CNM, it is considered healthy and viable romantic relationship option (Conley, Ziegler, Moors, Matsick, & Valentine, 2013; Rubel & Bogaert, 2014). Therapists, however, receive little to no training about CNM or the CNM community (Weitzman, 2006). Two hundred forty-nine individuals in CNM relationships responded to open and closed-ended survey questions about their experiences with past and current therapists. Of the therapists seen by CNM clients, nearly one-third (29%) were found to be lacking the basic knowledge of CNM needed to be an effective therapist, and only 27% were considered quite knowledgeable of CNM. Twenty-six percent therapists seen were found to be either not at all helpful (15%) or destructive (11%). Approximately one out of every ten (11%) CNM clients prematurely terminated sessions because of a negative interaction with their therapist regarding their CNM identity/lifestyle. These results highlight the need for empirically-based guidelines that could be included in mental health curricula and continuing education training. Resources developed for use with LGB clients may be helpful in developing CNM guidelines. In this study, swapping sexual orientation language for relationship orientation language (e.g., heterosexual for monogamous) on practice guidelines for LGB clients, led to the creation of a 13-item scale that accounted for half (50%) of the variance in therapist helpfulness scores for CNM clients. In light of the findings and available research, an initial set of empirically based guidelines for psychological practice with CNM clients are also proposed.
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Date
2016-08-31
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University of Kansas
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Keywords
Counseling psychology, Psychology, consensual non-monogamy, monogamy, psychotherapy, sexual minorities, therapy outcomes, treatment guidelines