9 Ways to Build Trust in Poly Relationships
Welcome to "9 Ways to Build Trust in Poly Relationships," a comprehensive guide authored by a licensed marriage and family therapist from Rouse Relational Wellness. Rouse is a boutique couples and sex therapy practice based in San Francisco, dedicated to supporting diverse relationship structures with compassion and expertise.
7 Common Challenges in Polyamorous Relationships and How to Overcome Them
Polyamorous relationships, where individuals have multiple consensual relationships simultaneously, can be incredibly rewarding and yet uniquely challenging. Addressing these challenges head-on is crucial for maintaining healthy and fulfilling connections. Below, we explore seven common challenges in polyamorous relationships and provide practical tips to overcome them.
Understanding and Evolving Your Attachment Style
Consider the story of Emma, a young woman who once struggled with insecure attachment patterns that hindered her personal relationships. Emma often found herself worrying that she was either clingy and overdependent or emotionally detached and unsure of how close she wanted to be to others. Recognizing these patterns as obstacles to her happiness, she began her journey of self-discovery and healing.
The Role of the Amygdala in Shaping Relationships
Understanding the intricate workings of the brain, particularly the amygdala, offers invaluable insights into the dynamics of our relationships. This blog post delves into the pivotal role the amygdala plays in emotional processing and how it influences attachment styles and conflict resolution.
“I love you, don’t touch me”
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about your attachment style until something goes wrong in your relationship. But for some people, feeling disconnected from their partner can lead to hyper-focusing on the relationship and sometimes sideways attempts to get attention from their partner. However, these sideways attempts often leave the other partner turned off and pulling away from the relationship.
Does this mean you’re doomed to this cycle forever? Not necessarily! We can do a few things to change our approach to building healthier ways of showing up in our relationships. One of those things is learning about what happens when our attachment to those close to us feels threatened.
Jealousy in Polyamorous Relationships: Understanding, Communicating, and Coping
Jealousy is a common emotion in all types of relationships, but it can present unique challenges in polyamorous dynamics. By addressing jealousy directly and constructively, you can maintain healthy and fulfilling connections with all your partners.
Possibilities in the Air.
Pride is upon us, the time when myriad LGBTQIA identities, and allies show up to fill the San Francisco streets with laughter, “looks'', affection, and connection. Although the pandemic paused Pride for the past two years, the Pride traditions are very familiar – the making of eye contact with a stranger while marching to Dolores, the debauchery with new and old friends, flirtatious movements on the dance floor and, for those that are fortunate, new sexual experiences.
Sexual Wellness and Empowerment: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Individuals
This guide aims to provide insights into sexual wellness, the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, and practical tips for achieving a fulfilling and empowered sexual life.
Reactive Dating in Polyamory: Strategies for Healthy Relationships
In polyamory, multiple loves and connections are celebrated, and maintaining healthy relationships requires clear communication, self-awareness, and mutual respect. However, even within this inclusive framework, complexities can arise. One such complexity is "reactive dating."
Navigating Polyamorous Relationships: How Couples Therapy Can Help
While polyamory isn't for everyone, it does not always offer relational bliss for those it works for. Polyamorous relationships can be both rewarding and challenging. For many, the journey toward a fulfilling multi-partner relationship involves growth, communication, and understanding. Couples therapy offers valuable support, helping partners develop the skills to foster healthy, loving connections.
Mindful Bonds: A Journey of Inner Exploration at the Men's Retreat
Set against the tranquil backdrop of the historic Jikoji Zen Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Mindful Bonds men's retreat offered a unique blend of serenity, introspection, and community. With a carefully curated itinerary designed to foster personal growth and connection, this retreat stands out as a pivotal point for many in their quest to understand themselves and improve their relationships.
Breaking The Silence: Understanding and Addressing Mental Health in the United States
In the landscape of health and well-being, mental health has often taken a back seat, shrouded in silence and shadowed by stigma. Yet, the reality is that mental health is an integral part of our overall health, deserving of the same attention, compassion, and care as physical health.
Discussing Turn Ons and Turn Offs with Your Partner
Sexuality is an essential aspect of human life that helps promote physical and emotional well-being in individuals and relationships. While sex might be a taboo topic for some couples, the truth is that discussing sexuality with your partner can help improve the quality of your intimate relationships.
Break from the Grind: The Practical Benefits of Wellness Retreats
In our fast-paced lives, it's quite common to get caught up in the constant grind, losing touch with our well-being and feeling like inner peace is a distant cousin. Thankfully these days, wellness has gone beyond just a trendy term to turnover turmeric; it's now a major focus for anyone seeking balance, health, and fulfillment. At a wellness retreat, you can experience that much-needed reset to focus on your balance and explore new avenues of relaxation and self-discovery.
The Women’s Rights Movement in Iran
March marks Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the immeasurable contributions of women past and present. In this post, we take a look at a particularly poignant struggle that's happening in Iran—a quest for freedoms which Iranian women are bravely leading against formidable challenges.
The Power of Therapy Groups for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence
Surviving intimate partner violence (IPV) is a traumatic experience that can leave its victims isolated and confused. Fortunately, there are many ways to heal from IPV, and one of the most potent methods is joining group therapy. In a therapy group, survivors can share stories in a safe space, connect with other survivors who understand their experiences and create meaningful bonds that often last long after the group has ended. We’ll also discuss why our trans-inclusive group for female survivors of IPV can be a healing experience.
Men’s Retreat: Clarity & Connection in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Imagine a place where the misty air of the Santa Cruz mountains gently nudges you towards inner peace and the whispering creeks guide you to deeper connections — not just with nature, but with the most intricate aspects of yourself.
Nurturing Mental Health in Black and Brown Communities: A Comprehensive Resource List
Mental health is a journey that looks different for everyone, especially within Black and Brown communities where the need for culturally sensitive support is both profound and vital.
Black Queer Icons
Throughout history, Black LGBTQ+ icons have left an unforgettable imprint on art, activism, and culture. Let's join hands to honor their legacy and forge ahead in the fight for a future that embraces inclusivity.
Alvin Ailey
A groundbreaking dancer and choreographer, shattered barriers with his poignant work that celebrated the beauty of the African American experience. His enduring legacy is embodied in the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, an institution steadfastly dedicated to fostering diversity, inclusion, and artistic excellence in the realm of dance.
Honoring Honey Mahogany
As we celebrate Black History Month, we must honor the individuals who continue to impact our diverse communities profoundly. One such luminary is Honey Mahoganay, an activist and politician whose work has reverberated throughout San Francisco, leaving a legacy of change and inclusivity. As residents of this vibrant city, as members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, and as humans advocating for equality, let's explore the powerful strides made by Honey and the indelible mark she's left on our hearts and society.
Advocacy for LGBTQIA+ Rights
Honey Mahoganay has become synonymous with staunch advocacy for LGBTQIA+ rights in San Francisco. Through her unwavering dedication, Honey has been a beacon of hope and a voice for the voiceless. She shows us the power of standing up for what is right by pushing for transformative policies and nurturing a culture of acceptance. Her actions inspire countless others to join the fight for equality and demonstrate that true progress is born from passion and perseverance.