I've actually been wondering if looking specifically for a poly friendly counsellor is going to be too hard and maybe I should start looking for counsellors who are approachable regarding other points of relationship differentiation. Obviously being amenable to one concept doesn't automatically mean amenability to the other, but it might be a start.
I've had a few shudder worthy moments with receptionists of some counselling centres when I've called and asked about how open minded the counsellors they work for are.
'Oh yes, [name redacted] is very open minded about sex'.
'So, polyamory is something they've dealt with successfully before and would be comfortable giving unbiased assistance to both my mono partner and myself?'
[pause]
'Um... what's polyamoorie? Is that... *whisper* like something to do with animals?'
'No, its about having relationships of varying degrees of intensity with more than one person simultaneously.'
[She perked up here]
'Like group sex and things? We have a counsellor who talks to sex workers about managing that type of thing.'
'Yeah look thanks anyway, but I'm not sure that this is going to help me. I'll try somewhere else.'
I've had a few shudder worthy moments with receptionists of some counselling centres when I've called and asked about how open minded the counsellors they work for are.
'Oh yes, [name redacted] is very open minded about sex'.
'So, polyamory is something they've dealt with successfully before and would be comfortable giving unbiased assistance to both my mono partner and myself?'
[pause]
'Um... what's polyamoorie? Is that... *whisper* like something to do with animals?'
'No, its about having relationships of varying degrees of intensity with more than one person simultaneously.'
[She perked up here]
'Like group sex and things? We have a counsellor who talks to sex workers about managing that type of thing.'
'Yeah look thanks anyway, but I'm not sure that this is going to help me. I'll try somewhere else.'
And no, I'm not kidding.
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