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Enhancing Social Work Practice with Polyamory: Challenges and Opportunities

Explore why social work is uniquely suited to working with polyamorous individuals. Examine the principles and challenges of integrating social work with polyamory. Discuss therapy sessions with poly people and the importance of training for mental health professionals.

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Enhancing Social Work Practice with Polyamory: Challenges and Opportunities

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  1. Social Work and Polyamory • Miriam Katz • PolyamQ Conference • University of Calgary • November 24, 2018

  2. Why is social work uniquely suited to working with polyamorous people?

  3. Principles of Social Work and Their Fit with Polyamory • Starting where the client is at • Emphasis on self-reflection and the therapeutic relationship • Working toward improving human rights and social justice

  4. Given the goodness of fit of social work principles with polyamory, are we ready to work with poly people?

  5. Challenges • We live in a society where monogamy is the norm, and consensual non-monogamy is seen as different, which means that mental health professionals may judge polyamorists (Jordan, L.S, Grogan, C., Muruthi, B. & Bermudez, M., 2017). • We lack training to work with so-called sexual minorities

  6. Studies to Consider

  7. What do you think poly people would talk about in a session?

  8. Therapy Sessions with Poly People • Weitzman (2006) argues that most poly people go to therapy for reasons unrelated to polyamory. However, there are also common issues that come up with polyamory that may require therapeutic intervention: • Jealousy • Communication • Coming Out • Living outside the norm

  9. To Conclude... • Social workers, in theory, should have the values to work with polyamorous clients • In reality, there’s a lack of knowledge and training • If you were, or are, studying social work, what would you want to learn about polyamory and where would it fit with your other courses?

  10. Thank you for your attention! • Feel free to contact me at m.il.katz@gmail.com

  11. References • Jordan, L.S., Grogan, C., Muruthi, B. & Bermúdez, J.M. (2017). Polyamory: Experiences of Power from Without, from Within, and in Between. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 16(1), 1-19. • Knapp, J.T. (1975). Some Non-Monogamous Marriage Styles and Related Attitudes and Practices of Marriage Counselors. The Family Coordinator, 24(4), 505-514. • Loving More. (2012, June 21). What Do Polys Want?: An Overview of the 2012 Loving More Survey. Retrieved from http://www.lovemore.com/polyamory-articles/2012-lovingmore-polyamory-survey/ • Muscarina, S. (2017, August). Psychological Transformations in Biographical Narratives: A Biography-Based Study of Non-Monogamous Relationship Cultures. Lecture presented at NMCI 2017. • Schechinger, H., Sakaluk, J.K. & Moors, A. (2018). Harmful and Helpful Therapy Practices With Consensually Non-Monogamous Clients: Toward an Inclusive Framework. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(11), 879-891. • Weitzman, G. (2006). Therapy with Clients Who Are Bisexual and Polyamorous. Journal of Bisexuality, 6(1-2), 137-164.

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