Polywise

A Deeper Dive into Navigating Open Relationships

De: Jessica Fern, David Cooley - contributor, Carrie Jenkins - foreword

Narrado por: Jessica Fern, David Cooley

As polyamory continues to make its way into the mainstream, more and more people are exploring consensual nonmonogamy in the hope of experiencing more love, connection, sex, freedom and support. While for many, the move expands personal horizons, for others, the transition can be challenging, leaving them blindsided and overwhelmed. Beyond the initial transition to nonmonogamy, many struggle with the root issues beneath the symptoms of broken agreements, communication challenges, increased fighting and persistent jealousy.

Polyamorous psychotherapist Jessica Fern and restorative justice facilitator David Cooley share the insights they have gained through thousands of hours working with clients in consensually nonmonogamous relationships. Using a grounded theory approach, they explore the underlying challenges that nonmonogamous individuals and partners can experience after their first steps, offering practical strategies for transforming them into opportunities for new levels of clarity and intimacy.

Polywise provides both the conceptual framework to better understand the shift from monogamy to nonmonogamy and the tools to navigate the next steps.

This audiobook includes a supplemental pdf.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Jessica Fern (P)2025 Thornapple Press

Amazing!

I loved this book because it gave me the needed insight to communicate, identify and navigate many different aspects of my relationship with my nesting partner. Highly recommend!

Essential Relationship advice

Having navigated transitions from monogamy to swinging to polyamory, I wish this book was around 20 years ago. Well written, great insights. Every couple should read this.

All good

I loved the book, it had some really great insights, and the readers were great!

Favorite book I have read on this topic!

Excellent resource offering a framework and tools for the paradigm-shift necessary when thinking about or transitioning into non-monogamy. She moves beyond basic communication to address root causes of challenges, and how to deconstruct the dominant norms. The book does not “push” polyamory, but helps people decide for themselves if monogamy or non-monogamy is what is right for them. It discusses topics like attachment, codependency and differentiation, reparative-justice approaches to conflict (e.g. speaker-listener conflict resolution technique), self-regulation, and applying Robert Kegan’s stages of human development in the context of making relationship decisions. Honestly, these tools are good for ALL relationship styles. You will come away feeling empowered to decide what truly right for yourself based on your values vs. the social scripts in our society.