Clinical Issues in Consensual Nonmonogamy (2 CEs)

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the history of how psychiatry and sexology have viewed sex and gender variance from the 1860’s until the present
• Describe the rationale for the ‘pathology model’ and the rationale and evidence for the current ‘normality’ paradigm for sex and gender variance
• Explain how the ‘queer’ community has changed – and expanded – over the last forty years
• Define the concepts of intersectionality and the age cohort effect among LGBTQ people
• Describe the different subgroups within the queer community, especially: bisexuals; kinkypeople;nonmonogamous people
• List 3 in sights about ‘mainstream’ sexuality learned from the research on gay couples andon alternative sex and gender expressions
• Explain the new standards of care for transgender and gender nonconforming clients
• Describe some of the clinical issues that might come up with non-monogamous or kinky clients, or couples where one member is bisexual, is transitioning, or wants to open the relationship

Speaker Bio:

Margie is a queer-identified psychotherapist, writer, activist, and educator with forty years of experience working in the LGBT+ community. She is a licensed psychologist, AASECT certified sex therapy supervisor, and WPATH GEI (Global Education Initiative) Mentor. In 1983 Dr. Nichols founded the Institute for Personal Growth, a multi-site psychotherapy center in New Jersey that centers the LGBTQ+ community both as clients and therapists, and directed IPG until 2018. In 1985 she was a primary founder and the first Director of the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, which continues to be New Jersey’s primary provider of social services and advocacy to people affected by HIV.

Dr. Nichols has authored more than two dozen papers or book chapters that are focused on LGBTQ+ issues. In 2020 her book, “The Modern Clinician’s Guide to Working with LGBTQ+ Clients” was published by Routledge Press.

Dr. Nichols also conducts trainings, workshops, and seminars virtually and in person. She supervises both therapists wishing to become AASECT-certified and those seeking WPATH certification, in addition to doing consults with therapists on specific cases.

She currently maintains a small private practice of therapy and consulting in Jersey City, New Jersey. She can be reached at drmargienichols@gmail.com.