Polyamory Australia

Victorian Health Professionals

NSW Health Professionals

Information for Health Professionals

Poly-friendly health practitioners by state and by category (eg doctor, counsellor)

If you are or know of a good poly-friendly health practitioner who isn't currently listed, please let us know by emailing admin@polyamory.org.au.

VICTORIA

Therapists

Patricia Danko (psychotherapist)
9 Cassells Rd
Brunswick 3056
Ph: (03) 9386 2756
Patricia has seen many people in the poly community and is highly recommended. She doesn't qualify for medicare rebate but has very reasonable fees.

Mary-Anne Godfrey (psychotherapist)
Albion & Elwood
Ph: 0404 031 150
All appointments are after hours

Deli Baker (psychologist)
PO Box 1004
Thornbury VIC 3071
Ph: 0423 778 208
email: dbaker@delibaker.com.au
www.delibaker.com.au

Carlton Clinic
88  Rathdowne St
Carlton 3053
Ph: (03) 9347 9422
www.carltonclinic.com.au
State clearly when making a booking that you want a poly-friendly counsellor

Jane Rashleigh (transpersonal counsellor)
"Supporting people in navigating their own experience to discover meaning in their lives"
Thornbury
Ph: 0418 818 038
Email: janerashleigh@gmail.com

Anna Beckman (transpersonal counsellor)
Thornbury
Ph: 0401 358 866
Email: annnakey@gmail.com

Julie Lorenz
Counselling and Hypnotherapy
Suite 102/1 Princess St
Kew  VIC  3101
Website: http://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/therapist/4708
Email: julielorenztherapy@yahoo.com.au
Phone: 0407 772 125

NSW

Therapists

Frances Amaroux BA Psych, NLP, Dip. Hypnotherapy, Dip Somatic Psychotherapy
Balmain/Sydney
Ph: 0414 810 148
Email: info@ALTcoach.com
www.ALTcoach.com
In private practice since 1991. Poly and kink-friendly. Specialising in Relationships, Sexuality, Depression &Anxiety, and Spiritual Exploration. No long waiting lists.

For health professionals

The following are some useful links and information if you are educating yourself about polyamory, or if you find yourself treating a polyamorous client. Some health professionals tend to see polyamorous involvement as part of the clients' pathology but the truth, as always, may be more complex, and familiarity with the basics of polyamory will help you to avoid throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

The links and information below are offered as is, with annotation but without recommendation - you'll need to decide for yourself whether they are appropriate to your practice.

Working with polyamorous clients in the clinical setting by Joy Davidson PhD

(Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, Volume 5, April 16, 2002)

Davidson addresses the following questions:

1. Why is it important that we talk about alternatives to monogamy now?
2. How can therapists prepare to work with people who are exploring polyamory?
3. What basic understandings about polyamory are needed?
4. What key issues do therapists need to watch for in the course of working with polyamorous clients?

Weitzman, G. Counseling bisexuals in polyamorous relationships. In BA Firestein (2007). Becoming visible: Counseling bisexuals across the lifespan (pp. 313-335). New York: Columbia University Press.

Although written for professionals working with bisexuals, the research reported here (unless otherwise stated) addressed polyamory or 'open relationships' across the spectrum of adult sexual attraction.

There is little existing research on polyamorous people.  Mostly undertaken in the 70s and 80s, it is the best we have to go on. Following is a summary of research cited in Weitzman's chapter, which covers the spectra of both sexuality and 'open' relationships.

• Psychological function: Psychological adjustment has been found to be the same as those who are monogamous (Buunk, 1980, cited in Rubin, 1982; Gough, 1982; Kurdek & Schmitt, 1986).

• Relationships: No difference was found in relationship adjustment, satisfaction, sense of security, love, respect, frequency of sex or relationship commitment (Kurdek & Schmitt, 1986; Peabody, 1982; Peplau, 1981; Rubin, 1982), nor longevity of the relationship. One difference was that extramarital sex was rarely held responsible for relationship breakdown (Ramey, 1975). Additionally, those in open relationships may live together longer than those in monogamous relationships (Kurdek & Schmitt, 1986; McWhirter & Mattison, 1984; Peabody, 1982).

• Societal and legal environment: Polyamorous people have to deal with being seen as deviant (Knapp, 1975; Mann, 1975). Most don’t reveal their polyamory to others (Weber, 2002). Partners may not be socially or legally recognised (Browning, Reynolds, & Dworkin, 1991; Knapp, 1976). When a polyamorous relationship ends, ex-partners are often told that this demonstrates that polyamory is not viable (Falco, 1995) – a comment not faced by monogamous people.

• Weitzman discusses her own research (2007). She asked whether bisexual polyamorous people (N = 2169) are at greater risk of STIs, but found that they were contracted at the same rate as the general US population (25%). She noted that some STIs (e.g. HIV, hepatitis and genital herpes) were less prevalent in her sample than in the general population. Weitzman also asked the same group whether they choose polyamory because they want partners of each gender. 70% said that it did not matter to them if they had partners of both genders, and 50% said that their sexual identity had not motivated their decision to pursue polyamory.

Becoming visible is available through Amazon and can be found in some university libraries (Australian university library search here).

The following paper by Weitzman can be accessed for free and covers some of the research presented in Weitzman (2007) in more depth than above.

What psychology professionals should know about polyamory by Geri Weitzman PhD

(Based on a paper presented at the 8th Annual Diversity Conference, March 12th, 1999, Albany, New York)

Weitzman covers the following topics in her paper:

1. Types of polyamory
2. Benefits of polyamory
3. Demographic data on polyamory
4. Therapists’ views of polyamory
5. What is known about the psychological and social functioning of polyamorous individuals?
6. Specific concerns of polyamorous individuals, which therapists can help with
7. Future research and conclusions

A phenomonology of polyamorous persons by Matt C Keener

(Unpublished masters thesis submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, 2004)

Keener's thesis explores the data from interviews held with 10 people who identify as polyamorous. Using a phonemonological data analysis approach, Keener identified the following themes:

1. Monogamist prejudice
2. Mainstream culture
3. Selective social circles
4. Intimate relationships
5. Core relationships
6. Self-identity
7. Learning and growing

In his discussion, Keener draws attention to the implications of his research findings for practitioners (see pp. 121-122)

Commitment in polyamorous relationships by Elaine Cook

(Unpublished masters thesis submitted to the Department of Liberal Studies (Psychology, Regis University, Colorado, 2005)

Cook interviewed 7 long term polyamorous couples to explore the nature of a commitment that is not defined by sexual exclusivity. Based on these interviews, Cook then describes

1. The nature of the relationships that respondents are involved in
2. Their conceptualization of the nature of commitment
3. The ways that they maintain their primary bond
4. The benefits of polyamory as perceived by the participants.

According to Cook's analysis, the common elements leading to a successful primary relationship were:

1. Mutual appreciation
2. Emotional closeness
3. Honesty
4. Good communication
5. Flexibility
6. Openness to personal growth