Level up to Expert Status with Sexual Health Alliance’s Consensual Non-Monogamy Certification Program
Make the move from poly-friendly and “I’ve heard of polyamory” to certified consensual non-monogamy practitioner!
Have you heard of polyamory or non-monogamous relationships? If you haven’t, we will get into that in a moment, but if you have, we have exciting news for you! Sexual Health Alliance now offers certification in Consensual Non-Monogamy. This program is for all professionals, therapists, educators, counselors, coaches, and healers, or anyone interested in learning more about different types of relationships. All are welcome: From college/graduate students and lifelong learners to helping professionals and novices.
This program gives you the collaborative tools and background you need to help clients and/or patients in designer and flexible relationships. From relationship styles like monogamish and open to swinging and poly+. This program will provide you with the skills you need to be the greatest asset possible to your clients.
To make this program the absolute best it can be, Sexual Health Alliance has partnered with Dr. Elisabeth Sheff and other leading open relationship and polyamorous relationship experts to bring you an exclusive certificate program in CNM relationships. “Dr. Elisabeth Sheff is one of a handful of global academic experts on polyamory and the foremost academic expert on children in polyamorous families. Specializing in diversity and underserved populations, Sheff is an expert witness, relationship consultant, public speaker, and author”. At Sexual Health Alliance, we find the experts, the people who are the most knowledgeable in their specialty and bring them to you.
What are Polyamory and Non-Monogamy and what is consensual non-monogamy?
Did you know that one in five people have been in an open relationship? “Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) lifestyles—like polyamory, swinging, monogamish relationships, and relationship anarchy—have dramatically increased in public awareness and popularity in the past 20 years'”. With numbers of polyamory and non-monogamous relationships increasing, the need for practitioners who are educated in these topics continues to grow as well.
If you’ve only heard these terms a few times before, or if you are brand new to these terms, we will start at the beginning. First, let’s start out by defining the terms Polyamory and Non-Manogamy.
Polyamory is the practice of engaging in multiple romantic (and typically sexual) relationships, with the consent of all the people involved.
Author and educator of polyamory and consensual non monogamy Laura Boyle describes Polyamory as “a relationship style where all participants consent to choosing their own adventure in multiple romantic relationships”. For more insight into polyamory, check out “The Ready for Polyamory” podcast, hosted by Laura, which provides insight on polyamorous relationships.
Monogamy is the state or practice of having only one sexual partner at a time. So if someone is non-monogamous, they do not participate in having only one sexual partner at a time.
PolyamoryUK provides a glossary of polyamory terms and this is their definition of consensual non-monogamy.
Consensual Non-Monogamy: (Also covered by ENM) A relationship structure whereby all partners are aware and consenting to some form of non-monogamy / non-exclusive relationship. This can cover a sexual relationship, a romantic one, both, or neither.
In a culture where the “norm” is traditional monogamous relationships, Polyamory and Consensual Non Monogamous relationships present a set of unique challenges. From dating to married life, as well as interacting with different institutions like schools and hospitals, issues present differently for those in non monogamous relationships. Thus the need for practitioners who understand the unique facets of non monogamous life are both in-demand and desired by this population of people.
What will I experience in the Consensual Non-Monogamy certification program?
At Sexual Health Alliance, our programs are designed to educate, engage, and challenge you. We believe in more than memorizing information. We provide interactive experiences with the opportunity to be a part of a community. We combine the flexibility of a self-paced online program with the accountability of live and interactive webinars and consultations.
Below you will find an outline of what is included in the experience of Sexual Health Alliance’s Consensual Non-Monogamy certification program.
A specialized & pace-accessible online learning platform
Including articles, discussions, engaging projects, and media facilitated by SHA
Live webinars with Q+A led by Dr. Elisabeth Sheff & Other Guest Speakers
All webinars are recorded for you to watch and learn at your own pace.
Case consultations with Dr. Elisabeth Sheff & Other Guest Speakers
Directly following the live webinars, stay online to discuss current cases and learn more from example case studies. Don’t have a specific case to discuss? Listen & learn for your future work.
Monthly Special Topic Recorded Webinars with expert guests
Special Guests will challenge your notions on poly+, swinging & other CNM relationships
A Specialized SHA Certification in Consensual Non-Monogamy
Receive a specialized certificate and extensive knowledge to assist in all forms of designer relationships in your work in the helping professions.
As you can see, we are WAY MORE than reading material. What sets Sexual Health Alliance apart is the facetime you receive with world-class experts. Not only are you learning from the best, but you are connecting with one of the most active sexuality communities in the world. As a part of this program, you will learn from a connected community of peers who share your passion for sexual health and wellness.
The CNM Program details: the topics you can expect to learn about when you become consensual non monogamy certified
Let’s talk details! There is a lot of great information to learn about, and this outline will give you an idea of the topics you can expect to discover in this program. This curriculum outline will walk you through each topic and subtopic within the SHA Consensual Non-Monogamy certification program.
Topic 1: Introduction to Polyamory and Consensual Non-Monogamy
What is polyamory
How is it different from other forms of CNM?
Can polyamory work?
Who has poly and/or CNM relationships?
Why do people want CNM?
Brief history of polyamory in the United States
Topic 2: Starting out
Finding partners
Common mistakes at the beginning
Ways to structure relationships
Honeymoon & NRE
Topic 3: Hot and Heavy
Negotiating boundaries
Live together, or not?
Safer sex agreements
Emotions in the polycule
Topic 4: Daily Life
Paid and unpaid work
Metamours
Time management
Money management
Renegotiating to meet reality
Commitment
Topic 5: Relationship Challenges
Why does the idea of polyamory upset some people so much?
Managing conflict
Consent violations
Power inequality and negotiation
Topic 6: Giving thanks for Poly family support
Defining co-spousal or polyaffective relationships
Polyaffective life
Coming Out
Topic 7: It takes a (Polyaffective) village
Pregnancy
Parenting
Becoming Polyamorous after already a parent
Dealing with families of origin
Dealing with schools
Topic 8: New beginnings in later life
Aging
Retiring
Shifting relationships
Topic 9: Love makes a family and a culturally competent practitioner
Evolving relationships with family of origin
Helping each other through hard times
How have elders maintained long term relationships?
Impact on children who grow up in a poly family
Topic 10: Interacting with institutions
Legal Issues Facing Poly Folks
Dealing with medical institutions
Money
Discrimination
Topic 11: This is the end
Breaking Up
Death and Dying
Grief
Topic 12: Resilience and lessons learned
Fostering resilient polyamorous relationships
Best practices for therapists supporting CNM relationships
By learning and practicing this information, you’ll be better equipped to serve and work with people who are polyamorus, non-monogamous, or interested in exploring these lifestyles. Adding this certification to your repertoire provides you with the confidence you need to give current, well thought out information and advice in these subject areas.
How do I sign up for the Consensual Non-Monogamy Certification Program?
It’s level-up time! Are you ready to learn and transform your career?
Registering for the Consensual Non-Monogamy Certification program is easy. You can easily register by paying for the program in a one-time payment, or break up the payments over nine months. Everything can be done on our website with just a few clicks.
Let’s take a look at your various payment options.
Option A: Full payment with CEs $2,757.00
Option B: Full payment without CEs $1,997.00
Option C: Nine-month payment plan with CEs $330/month
Option D: Nine-month payment plan without CEs $245/month
Once you select the payment option that works the best for you, you can register here.
At Sexual Health Alliance, our goal is to make all of our educational programs as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have questions about our programs or payment options, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We love to send you off with learning resources, so here are a few articles to get you started on your journey to learning more about polyamory and non-monogamy. Enjoy!