Live Virtual Training · 1.0 CE Hour · Beginner Level
Working with Non-Monogamous Clients
Date & Time: Monday, March 16, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern
Format: Live Interactive Webinar via Zoom — link provided upon registration
CE Hours: 1.0 clock hour
Content Level: Beginner
Instructor: Dr. Cyrus Patten, LICSW
Fee: $59.00 | Free for current members of The Wellness Collaborative
Accessibility: To request ADA accommodations, contact hello@wellnesscollaborative.io or 802-316-8288 prior to the program.
Course Description
Working with Non-Monogamous Clients is a live, instructor-led continuing education program designed to equip mental health professionals with foundational knowledge and practical skills for providing affirming, competent care to clients engaged in consensual non-monogamy (CNM) and ethically non-monogamous (ENM) relationship structures.
This beginner-level program provides an overview of CNM relationship structures, including open relationships, polyamory, relationship anarchy, and other ethical non-monogamy configurations. Participants will explore how personal values, cultural assumptions, and clinical biases can influence assessment and treatment when working with this population. The program applies a social work and counseling ethics lens throughout, with attention to client welfare, autonomy, and culturally competent, non-judgmental practice.
Structured didactic instruction is paired with instructor-guided case illustrations to support application of the presented material. This program does not function as supervision, peer consultation, or case staffing.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this 1-hour program, participants will be able to:
- Define consensual non-monogamy (CNM) and distinguish among common CNM relationship structures, including open relationships, polyamory, and relationship anarchy.
- Identify common clinical biases and mononormative assumptions that may affect assessment and treatment with non-monogamous clients.
- Apply ethical principles related to client self-determination, welfare, and cultural competence when working with CNM clients.
- Describe at least two strategies for creating an affirming therapeutic environment for non-monogamous clients.
Target Audience
Licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals, including licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed counselors (LPCs, LMHCs, LCPCs), marriage and family therapists (MFTs), psychologists, and related behavioral health professionals.
No prerequisites required. This is an introductory-level program appropriate for professionals with little to no prior training in working with non-monogamous clients.
Program Agenda
11:00 – 11:05 AM | Welcome & Orientation — Review of learning objectives, instructional format, and CE participation requirements
11:05 – 11:25 AM | Didactic Instruction: CNM Foundations — Overview of CNM relationship structures; mononormativity and clinical bias; cultural competence frameworks
11:25 – 11:45 AM | Applied Learning: Instructor-Guided Case Illustrations — Application of ethical principles and affirming practice strategies to instructor-presented case examples. Cases are used for educational illustration only; no supervision or consultation is provided.
11:45 – 11:55 AM | Integration & Key Takeaways — Summary of CNM affirmative practice principles; strategies for reducing bias in clinical settings; Q&A
11:55 AM – 12:00 PM | Closing & CE Instructions — Review of learning objectives; instructions for CE credit verification; program conclusion
Instructor
Dr. Cyrus Patten, LICSW Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with experience in ethics education, clinical supervision, and continuing education program development.
Accreditation
ASWB ACE — Social Workers The Wellness Collaborative, ACE Provider #2004, is approved as a provider of continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 general continuing education credit.
NBCC ACEP — Counselors The Wellness Collaborative has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7973. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The Wellness Collaborative is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Participants are responsible for verifying that this course meets the CE requirements of their specific licensing jurisdiction.