Beyond Couples Therapy: Polyamory and Systemic Practice

Desert–CAMFT

presents

in collaboration with the Central Coast chapter

Beyond Couples Therapy: Polyamory and Systemic Practice

with James Gavin Bridges PhD, LMFT, CFLE

Friday, October 24, 2025
9:30am-11:30am

Online Via Zoom

(link will be provided in confirmation and reminder emails)

2 CE Credits

Description

This presentation provides audience members with helpful concepts related to non-monogamy and systemic practice. It goes over relational terms used by the community, important distinction between commonly used language, and encourages therapists to remain curious about clients’ language even after doing their own homework. The presentation will introduce clinicians to key tasks in therapy when working with non- monogamous client systems.

Clinicians will also learn which relational therapy approaches and interventions can be used with non-monogamous clients as they work on relationship structure formation, agreement making, and recovery from relational ruptures. Audience members can expect to learn skills and strategies for working with clients navigating non-monogamy or wanting to be non-monogamous (i.e., opening up). Throughout the presentation, audience members can also expect to work on self-reflection as they contemplate providing therapeutic help to clients in non-monogamous relationship structures.

Education Goals

1. Understand concepts related to non-monogamy and systemic practice.
2. Understand key tasks in therapy when working with non- monogamous client systems.
3. Identify narratives and biases related to socialization in a mono- normative society.
4. Describe relational therapy approaches/interventions that can be used with non-monogamous clients.
5. Apply skills and strategies for working with clients navigating non-monogamy or wanting to be non-monogamous.

Learning Objectives

In successfully completing and attending this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Identify at least 6 key principles of what presenting problems brings non-monogamous clients into therapy.

2. Name 3 communication interventions that can be used with agreement making for non- monogamous relationship systems.

3. Identify 5 different theories of marriage and family therapy that can be used when working with non-monogamous systems.

4. State the 4 main principles of structuring agreement conversations effectively.

Presenter

James "Jimmy" Gavin Bridges PhD, LMFT, CFLE (he/they) is a licensed couple and family therapist in Massachusetts and Vermont, a certified family life educator through NCFR, an AAMFT approved supervisor and clinical fellow, and part-time faculty at National University in the MFT masters and doctoral programs. He received his doctoral and master’s degrees in Couple and Family Therapy from Kansas State University. He also received two graduate certificates in Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies and Social Justice Education from Kansas State University. His clinical specialization is working with queer and non-monogamous clients. He has presented in university settings, conferences, regional organizations, and online platforms on non- monogamy and couples therapy models. Jimmy has worked in community mental health, group practice, and currently works in private practice with their nesting partner, who is also a therapist.

Cost/Registration

$25 for Desert-CAMFT Members

$15 for Prelicensed Members

$35 for Non-members or Guests

Closing date for registration is Thursday, October 23, 2025.

Questions

Please email Chaundra Prehara, Director of Events at chaundraprehara@yahoo.com.