Recorded workshop available via video on demand
AASECT Category: Human Sexuality, Section F.
Open and Polyamorous Relationships in the LGBTQ+ Community (2 CE Hours)
$80.00
Presented by: Niki D, BSc (Hons), MA, UKCP
2 CE Hours
Description:
This course explores relationship diversity within LGBTQIA+ communities, with a focus on open, polyamorous, and other non-monogamous relationship structures. Participants will examine the concept of mononormativity and how it intersects with cisnormativity and heteronormativity in both social and therapeutic contexts. The course will highlight common clinical themes, challenges, and strengths present in diverse relationship structures, including jealousy, compersion, communication, boundaries, and relationship endings.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the range of relationship diversity within LGBTQIA+ communities
- Explain the impact of mononormativity in therapeutic contexts
- Identify common challenges faced by clients in open and polyamorous relationships
- Apply Niki D’s 7-Stage Model of Co-Creating an Open Relationship in clinical practice
- Demonstrate expanded approaches for working with jealousy and compersion
- Analyze the specific nature of endings in open and polyamorous relationships
Activity Schedule:
| 10 minutes | Welcome | Intro/Intention
Personal/Professional (Opening Up) Not promoting one relationship style Therapists responding to social change LGBTQ+ relationship diversity |
| 10 minutes | Relationship Diversity | LGBTQIA O&P diversity |
| 15 minutes | Mononormativity | Mononormativity
Myths & Terms |
| 20 minutes | Key Themes | Key Themes
Mismatched expectations Opening up problems Communication challenges Transitions & polyam burnout De-escalations & transitions Jealousy & Compersion |
| 15 minutes | FREEDOM Model | FREEDOM Model |
| 15 minutes | 7-Stage Model | 7-Stage Model |
| 20 minutes | Practice Examples | Practice Examples x 2
Ethical Examples x 2 |
| 10 minutes | Q&A | Q&A |
| 5 minutes | Close | Close & Goodbye |
Speaker Bio:
Niki has worked as a visiting lecturer and tutor on counselling and psychotherapy courses, including teaching about relationship diversity for Pink Therapy. She holds an MA in Existential Psychotherapy alongside advanced training in GSRD therapy and somatic trauma therapy.
As co-director of Opening Up CPD, Niki provides specialist training for therapists supporting clients in polyamorous and open relationships. She has contributed four chapters on GSRD themes to therapy handbooks, combining professional insight with practical guidance.
Websites:
www.rainbowrelationships.com
https://openingupcpd.com
Class originally recorded: 6/12/2026.
Social workers completing this course receive 2 cultural competence continuing education credits.
MSTI is an approved CE organizational provider for IBOSP, AASECT, and ASWB. Modern Sex Therapy Institutes is part of the Advanced Mental Health Training Institute. The Advanced Mental Health Training Institute has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No.6901. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Advanced Mental Health Training Institute is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
MSTI is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for Psychologists. The Modern Sex Therapy Institutes maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Modern Sex Therapy Institutes (MSTI), provider #1787, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: [1/7/22-1/7/26].
Attendees must attend the entire course and complete a course evaluation to be eligible for CE credit
For Live Courses: To obtain CE credits, attendees must attend the entire course and complete an evaluation to receive credit.
For asynchronous/recorded courses, Attendees must pass the multiple choice posttest with a minimum score of 80% in 3 attempts to be eligible for CE credit.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded immediately upon course completion.