When Consensual Non-Monogamy Works

What happens when a therapist wants to date in the area? Where are the common areas of comfort or potential tension? In this episode, Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith opens up to her co-host, Martha Kauppi, about her experiences dating as a therapist, covering everything from how to handle erotic transference to unexpectedly encountering clients on dating apps.  Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off Institute for Relational Intimacy's webinars. Get free training in Martha Kauppi's first-session sex issues assessment. To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected]. Thanks for listening!

What happens when there's friction between partners due to a core turn-on? Are there ways to navigate an impasse when that desire introduces discomfort? Hosts Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith and Martha Kauppi explore clinical interventions that can help both therapists and clients can work towards a solution that leaves everyone satisfied. Whether it's a kink, a turn-on, or an erotic template, there's always room to learn, and to grow together.   Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off "Therapeutic Strategies for Loss of Attraction: From Hopeless to Empowered" and individual webinars. Get free training in Martha Kauppi's first-session sex issues assessment. To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected]. Thanks for listening!

What happens when consensual non-monogamy (CNM) introduces new challenges? Hosts Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith and Martha Kauppi discuss how clinicians and those involved in CNM relationships can navigate new relationship energy (NRE), broken agreements, and feelings of jealousy, shame, or displacement.  Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off "Consensual Non-Monogamy Level 1: Clinical Skills and Interventions" and individual webinars. Get free training in Martha Kauppi's first-session sex issues assessment. To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Misleading sex education, poor sex education, and fear-based messaging around sex can all complicate first sexual encounters. Hosts Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith and Martha Kauppi discuss a variety of ways to practice consent, and cover how therapists can support clients navigating their first sexual encounter. Get free training in Martha Kauppi's first-session sex issues assessment. Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off IRI's webinars. To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected]. Thanks for listening!

When someone has a deepened sense of self, it can lead to broader understanding when it comes to love, romance, and dating. This is especially true post-divorce. In this episode, hosts Martha Kauppi and Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith discuss how the dating world changes in midlife, bringing real experience to the table, and providing professional insight.  Join Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith on September 25, 2026 for Bridging the Gap: Integrating Sexual Wellness Into Your Practice. More information on the workshop can be found here.  Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off "Romance to Roommates: Rekindling the Spark" and IRI's webinars. To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected]. Thanks for listening!

Heated Rivalry continues to cause a stir, and a lot of its potency comes down to depiction. Hosts Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith and Martha Kauppi explore what makes the show, and novels, such an effective—and surprisingly moving—portrayal of male/male passion. Whether keying in on how the series handles consent, communication, or conveys broader messages, both Skye and Martha agree: there's a lot to love.  Join Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith on September 25, 2026 for Bridging the Gap: Integrating Sexual Wellness Into Your Practice. More information on the workshop can be found here.  Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off "Consensual Non-Monogamy Level 1: Clinical Skills and Interventions" and individual webinars. To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Read the abstract for Dr. Mims Wilder's dissertation on male/male romance novels here.  Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, hosts Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith and Martha Kauppi cover the powerful cores of consensual non-monogamy at its most harmonious. From communication to consideration to compersion, there are plenty of components to explore.  Considering consensual non-monogamy? Get "8 Steps to Opening Up" for free here.  Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off "Consensual Non-Monogamy Level 1: Clinical Skills and Interventions" and individual webinars. Sign up for the waitlist of a new coaching program for consensually non-monogamous individuals here.  Get Martha Kauppi's book, Polyamory: A Clinical Toolkit for Therapists (and Their Clients), here.  To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, hosts Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith and Martha Kauppi dig into some common, prevailing, and harmful or damaging beliefs that many therapists still struggle with when it comes to consensual non-monogamy. Each host offers keen insight on clinical—and personal—paths to providing more sensitive support.  Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off "Consensual Non-Monogamy Level 1: Clinical Skills and Interventions" and individual webinars. Sign up for the waitlist of a new coaching program for consensually non-monogamous individuals here.  Get Martha Kauppi's book, Polyamory: A Clinical Toolkit for Therapists (and Their Clients), here.  To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected].

In this episode, hosts Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith and Martha Kauppi discuss how to thoughtfully broach client conversations involving the pursuit of consensual non-monogamy (CNM). Both hosts emphasize the importance of small, practical experiments, curiosity, and compassionate mindfulness.  Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off "Consensual Non-Monogamy Level 1: Clinical Skills and Interventions" and individual webinars. Get free training in Martha Kauppi's first-session sex issues assessment. Get Martha Kauppi's book, Polyamory: A Clinical Toolkit for Therapists (and Their Clients), here.  To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected]. Thanks for listening!

In this special episode, Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith and Martha Kauppi revisit their time at the Kauppi-led retreat training, Solo Sessions: Relational Renewal Through Individual Interventions. Throughout the conversation, the hosts discuss their roles, key takeaways, and various insights, while expanding on why and how retreat trainings can remain a vital experience for clinicians.  Use code UNTANGLINGINTIMACY to unlock 25% off "Consensual Non-Monogamy Level 1: Clinical Skills and Interventions" and individual webinars. Get free training in Martha Kauppi's first-session sex issues assessment. To stay updated on future Institute for Relational Intimacy retreats, visit here. To learn more about Dr. Fiona O'Farrell, visit here.  To work with Dr. K. Skye Henry Smith, submit here. To find out more about Martha Kauppi, and access more training materials, visit here. Have a question for Skye and Martha? We can't promise every submission will be answered, but we'd love to hear from you! Send your thoughts to: ⁠[email protected]. Thanks for listening!