Editing Polyamory (section)

==In a clinical setting==
In 2002, a paper titled ''Working with polyamorous clients in the clinical setting'' (by Joy Davidson) addressed various areas of inquiry. This included the importance of talking about alternatives to monogamy, how therapists can work with those who are exploring polyamory, basic understandings of polyamory, and key issues that therapists need to watch for in the course of working with polyamorous clients. It concluded that "Sweeping changes are occurring in the sexual and relational landscape" (including "dissatisfaction with limitations of serial monogamy, i.e. exchanging one partner for another in the hope of a better outcome"); that clinicians need to start by "recognizing the array of possibilities that 'polyamory' encompasses" and "examine our culturally-based assumption that 'only monogamy is acceptable'" and how this bias impacts on the practice of therapy; the need for self-education about polyamory, basic understandings about the "rewards of the poly lifestyle" and the common social and relationship challenges faced by those involved, and the "shadow side" of polyamory, the potential existing for coercion, strong emotions in opposition, and jealousy. The paper also states that the configurations a therapist would be "most likely to see in practice" are individuals involved in primary-plus arrangements, monogamous couples wishing to explore non-monogamy for the first time, and "poly singles".<ref name="davidson" />

In 2002, the rights of polyamorous people were added to the mission of the [[National Coalition for Sexual Freedom]], an American [[sex-positive]] advocacy and educational organization;<ref name="ncsf">{{cite web |url=https://ncsfreedom.org/who-we-are/the-history-of-the-ncsf/ |title=History of NCSF |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020 |website=[[National Coalition for Sexual Freedom]] |access-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224181322/https://ncsfreedom.org/who-we-are/the-history-of-the-ncsf/ |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> a manual for psychotherapists who deal with polyamorous clients was published by them in September 2009, called ''What Psychotherapists Should Know About Polyamory'' (written by Geri Weitzman and others).<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Weitzman | first1 = Geri | display-authors = etal | title = What psychotherapists should know about polyamory | url = https://ncsfreedom.org/images/stories/pdfs/KAP/2010_poly_web.pdf | publisher = [[National Coalition for Sexual Freedom]] | location = Baltimore, Maryland | year = 2009 | access-date = September 8, 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131126173943/https://ncsfreedom.org/images/stories/pdfs/KAP/2010_poly_web.pdf | archive-date = November 26, 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pinktherapy.com/portals/0/CourseResources/WhatPsychologistsShouldKnowaboutPolyRelationships.pdf|title=Counseling the Polyamorous Client: Implications for Competent Practice|author=Adrianne L. Johnson|date=2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225024238/http://www.pinktherapy.com/portals/0/CourseResources/WhatPsychologistsShouldKnowaboutPolyRelationships.pdf|archive-date=December 25, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[National Coalition for Sexual Freedom]] manages the Kink And Poly Aware Professionals Directory, which consists of an Internet directory of psychotherapeutic, medical, and other professionals who have volunteered to be contacted by people who are involved in polyamory (and/or [[BDSM]], etc.).<ref name="OrtmannCommunities2012">{{cite book|author1=David M. Ortmann|author2=Richard A. Sprott|title=Sexual Outsiders: Understanding BDSM Sexualities and Communities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OSY3uy8xcogC&pg=PA137|date=15 November 2012|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers|isbn=978-1-4422-1737-9|pages=137–|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=March 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310100817/https://books.google.com/books?id=OSY3uy8xcogC&pg=PA137|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kapprofessionals.org/|title=Kink Aware Professionals (KAP) – Sex-Positive Support for Kink and Nonmonogamy|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=March 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327210101/https://kapprofessionals.org/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kapprofessionals.org/|title=Welcome to the New Kink And Poly Aware Professionals Directory (KAP)|website=Kink Aware Professionals (KAP)|access-date=March 3, 2021|archive-date=March 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327210101/https://kapprofessionals.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Polyamory-Friendly Professionals Directory is a directory on the Internet "of professionals who are sensitive to the unique needs of polyamorous clientele"; it includes psychologists, therapists, medical professionals, and other professionals.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Polyamory-Friendly Professionals Directory: Search|url=https://www.polyfriendly.org/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=www.polyfriendly.org|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506013204/https://www.polyfriendly.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>