Maybe you’ve heard that open relationships are trending. Maybe you read or watched Fifty Shades of Grey and are interested in kink. The alt-sex world is getting more attention than ever. Whether you’re interested in the alt-sex lifestyle or not, this episode will teach you about non-traditional relationships and how to begin exploring your sexuality in more depth with your partner.
If you have a personal interest in alt-sex but haven’t explored it yet, you can use this episode as a launchpad into your own research and sexual exploration. If you’re a non-kinky or a monogamous individual, much of the information in this episode will still be relevant to you. You’ll learn how to communicate with your partner about your fantasies and desires, kinky or otherwise. Additionally, you’ll learn how to handle situations in which one or both partners is attracted to a third party. This information will augment your relationship toolbox no matter who you are!
Heather McPherson, MA, LPC-S, LMFT-S, is a psychotherapist who specializes in sexuality and relationships. She has is an AASECT Certified Sex Therapist and a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Heather is the Texas Section Leader for the American Association for Sexuality Educators, Counselors & Therapists and the founder of the Sexual Health Alliance, a national organization bringing sexual health education to a city near you. She is also the founder of Respark, a counseling clinic focused on helping individuals and couples with sexual and other issues. She helps clients gain confidence, rebuild trust, increase playfulness, and find passion and meaning in their erotic lives.
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“Read as much as you can to learn about the process of negotiating with your partner before you try anything – before you sneak in that flogger into your bedroom.” – Heather McPherson
Show Notes:
- What the heck is alt-sex?
- What does it mean to be monogamish?
- Porn and monogamy
- How kink isn’t always about sex
- The distinction between open relationships and polyamory
- How successful are non-traditional relationships? The hard facts!
- Why it’s useful for monogamous, non-kinky couples need to have conversations about attraction, open relationships, and polyamory
- How to find success in the open-relationship lifestyle
- Reasons why couples should begin to have conversations about attraction to others, fantasies, desires, etc.
“Porn is like watching The Fast and the Furious and then wanting to go home and drive a fast car.” – Dr. David Ley
Alt-Sex Reading List:
- Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns by Philip Miller
- SM 101 by Jay Wiseman
- Opening Up by Tristan Taormino
- The Ethical Slut by Janet W. Hardy
- Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan & Cacilda Jetha
- The New Monogamy by Tammy Nelson PhD
Links Mentioned:
- Check out FetLife: The Social Network for the BDSM, Fetish & Kinky
- Learn more about The Sexual Health Alliance
- Connect with Heather:
Twitter | Respark Therapy Associates
“Heterosexual couples are having more sophisticated, mature conversations about attraction, desire, fantasies, etc. I think in part because gay relationships have taught the hetero community a lot.” – John Howard