Susan Wenzel is a poly-friendly or polyamory affirmative therapist. A poly-affirmative therapist is a trained clinician who has extra knowledge, both personally and professionally, to challenge the stigma of ethical nonmonogamy and societal bias and judgment toward consensual nonmonogamous individuals and their families.
A poly-affirmative therapist also assists clients to thrive in their relationships as they learn skills to navigate their relationships and manage insecurities that might arise. Susan and her husband have been in a polyamory lifestyle for the last nine years and have learned skills to navigate their open relationships.
ENM is an umbrella of open relationships, polyamory, swingers, monogamish, polyandry, and basically any relationship between consenting adults who are ethically not in a monogamous relationship.
Susan is an author of “A happy life in an open relationship: The Essential guide to a healthy and fulfilling nonmonogamous love life.” The book has been featured in diverse media platforms, including O, The Oprah Magazine, The New York Post, The New York Times, Men’s Health, The Daily Telegraph, UK, Business Insider, Katie Couric Media, various podcasts and Radio Shows.
A polyamorous relationship is an opportunity for individuals and couples to learn communication skills, set healthy boundaries, establish strong emotional bonds, increase the feeling of love, communicate needs and wants, form loving relationships with others, and enhance sexual experiences. Through the emotional work required in open and polyamorous relationships, the couple and individuals can learn to manage jealousy and other insecurities that might arise.
As a poly-friendly therapist, her work consists of walking alongside her clients as they learn to design and navigate their ethical nonmonogamous relationships and to thrive in them.
One of the main reasons that polyamory clients seek her services is due to jealousy and communication issues. Managing and overcoming jealousy is not a linear process. It’s not a weakness but an opportunity for growth as one takes the journey inward for healing and wholeness.
Polyamory is an opportunity for individuals and couples to learn communication skills, set healthy boundaries, establish strong emotional bonds, increase the feeling of love, communicate needs and wants, form loving relationships with others, and enhance sexual experiences. Through the emotional work required in open and polyamorous relationships, polyamory-friendly therapists can help couples and individuals learn skills to manage jealousy and foster personal growth that will help them transcend relationships in a much higher consciousness of living a happy and fulfilling life. The greatest gift we can give our relationship is to become emotionally buoyant.
Poly affirmative therapy is for you if:
- If you are struggling with jealousy and other insecurities in your polyamory relationship.
- If you wish to learn skills for managing jealousy and other insecurities.
- If you or your partner are thinking of initiating an open or polyamory relationship.
- If you desire to learn communication skills that foster closeness and connections with your partner (s).
- If you desire multiple love in your life.
- If you desire to set healthy boundaries in your polyamorous relationship.
- If you wish to establish boundaries around safe sex.
- If you flip-flop with compersion and jealousy.
- If you desire better outcomes with time management in your poly-relationship.
- If you feel that your needs are not met in a poly relationship.
- If you or your partner is keeping secrets in your relationships
- If you wish to disclose your polyamory relationship to your children, friends and family.
- If you have generalized anxiety and fear about coming out in general.
- If you doubt if you are a nonmonogamous or monogamous individual.
- If you desire more sexual connection with your primary and other partners (s).
- If you want to define and create structure around your poly relationship.
- If you wish to transcend your polygamous relationship by seeking personal growth and high consciousness.
- If you are preparing to have a live-in new partner or metamours.
- If you are planning to have a blended polyamorous family unit.
- If you feel judged by your current therapist, coach or professional worker because of your polyamory lifestyle.
- If you are afraid of push-back at your workplace.
- If you feel your boundaries are not respected in your relationship.
- If your partner neglects you due to new relationship energy (NRE).
- If you wish to be legally married to your poly partner.
- If you feel insecurely attached to your partner.
- If you wish to learn how to become a better support system for your partner(s).
- If you wish to evaluate and adjust your polyamory agreements.
- If you feel unfulfilled despite your partner’s effort to meet your needs and accommodate your desires.
- If you wish to learn to create your own happiness in your poly relationship.
- If you wish to discuss explicit and implicit boundaries in your relationship.
- If you wish to discuss off-limits activities.
- If you desire to learn techniques for dealing with anxious thoughts and negative beliefs.
- If you are grieving and having a difficult time letting go of relationships that have come to an end.
- If you wish to learn non-attachment skills and the underlying root causes affecting your identity and worthiness.
- If you wish to learn skills to foster self-love, self-approval, self-acceptance and emotional regulation.
- If you wish to learn skills to foster spirituality and emotional well-being in your ethical nonmonogamous relationships.