Diverse Sexualities, Genders, and Relationships – serie

What is compersion? Is it the “opposite” of jealousy, as it is usually believed? Is it an emotion or a behavior? What causes it to arise and bloom? Can we “learn” compersion or invite more of it into our lives?Based on her seminal research with consensually non-monogamous (CNM) individuals, Dr. Marie Thouin unravels these questions and more in the first-ever book to offer a comprehensive model of compersion and a practical road map to cultivating it. Each chapter features compelling stories from real CNM people, making this a captivating and highly applicable read. In addition, Thouin addresses the broader social context, explaining how understanding compersion is a groundbreaking step toward a world that supports relational diversity and freedom. By disrupting the idea that jealousy is the only valid response to intimacy beyond monogamy, the existence and practice of compersion builds the foundation for a completely new paradigm of loving relationships. This book and its conclusions have profound implications for many fields of study and practice including psychology, sexuality studies, philosophy and ethics, and law. Indispensable for CNM individuals, therapists, counselors, and scholars, this book is also invaluable for anyone curious to learn about positive empathy, intentional relationships, and radical love.

This comprehensive book combines empirical research with clinically relevant insights to teach mental health professionals (social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and counselors) what they need to know to develop cultural competence to work with those in the consensual kink and BDSM communities.

This comprehensive book combines empirical research with clinically relevant insights to teach mental health professionals (social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and counselors) what they need to know to develop cultural competence to work with those in the consensual kink and BDSM communities.

Selected as a 2024-2025 Doody’s Special Topics List TitleThis book provides an overview of risk and protective factors for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth and emerging adults to inform the clinical practice of mental health professionals who work with this population. Grounded in multicultural, intersectional, and positive youth development frameworks, this book emphasizes holistic health perspectives, integrated care approaches (of mental health with general health service delivery), and interdisciplinary team efforts targeting both the psychological and physical health needs of children, adolescents, and emerging adults. Mental health professionals and educators at any stage of their career who want to expand their knowledge base and improve their skill level for working effectively with LGBTQ+ children, adolescents, and emerging adults will find this a thought-provoking and illuminating resource.

Selected as a 2024-2025 Doody’s Special Topics List TitleThis book provides an overview of risk and protective factors for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) youth and emerging adults to inform the clinical practice of mental health professionals who work with this population. Grounded in multicultural, intersectional, and positive youth development frameworks, this book emphasizes holistic health perspectives, integrated care approaches (of mental health with general health service delivery), and interdisciplinary team efforts targeting both the psychological and physical health needs of children, adolescents, and emerging adults. Mental health professionals and educators at any stage of their career who want to expand their knowledge base and improve their skill level for working effectively with LGBTQ+ children, adolescents, and emerging adults will find this a thought-provoking and illuminating resource.

In Love and Freedom, Jorge Ferrer proposes a paradigm shift in how romantic relationships are conceptualized, a step forward in the evolution of modern relationships. In the same way that the transgender movement surmounted the gender binary, Ferrer defines how a parallel step can—and should—be taken with the relational style binary. This book offers the first systematic discussion of relationship modes beyond monogamy and polyamory, as well as introduces the notion of “relational freedom” as the capability to choose one’s relational style free from biological, psychological, and sociocultural conditionings. To achieve these goals, Ferrer first discusses a number of critical categories—specifically, monopride/polyphobia, and polypride/monophobia—that mediate the contemporary “mono–poly wars,” that is, the predicament of mutual competition among monogamists and polyamorists. The ideological nature of these “mono–poly wars” is demonstrated through a review of available empirical literature on the psychological health and relationship quality of monogamous and polyamorous individuals and couples. Then, after showing how monogamy and polyamory ultimately reinforce each other, Ferrer articulates three relational pathways to living in-between, through, and beyond the mono/poly binary: fluidity, hybridity, and transcendence. Moving beyond that binary opens a fuzzy, liminal, and multivocal relational space that Ferrer calls novogamy. In this groundbreaking book, readers will learn practical tools to not only transform jealousy, but also enhance their relational freedom while being aware of key issues of diversity and social justice. They will also learn novel criteria to evaluate the success of their intimate relationships, and be introduced to a transformed vision of romantic love beyond both monocentrism and emerging polynormativities.

In Love and Freedom, Jorge Ferrer proposes a paradigm shift in how romantic relationships are conceptualized, a step forward in the evolution of modern relationships. In the same way that the transgender movement surmounted the gender binary, Ferrer defines how a parallel step can—and should—be taken with the relational style binary. This book offers the first systematic discussion of relationship modes beyond monogamy and polyamory, as well as introduces the notion of “relational freedom” as the capability to choose one’s relational style free from biological, psychological, and sociocultural conditionings. To achieve these goals, Ferrer first discusses a number of critical categories—specifically, monopride/polyphobia, and polypride/monophobia—that mediate the contemporary “mono–poly wars,” that is, the predicament of mutual competition among monogamists and polyamorists. The ideological nature of these “mono–poly wars” is demonstrated through a review of available empirical literature on the psychological health and relationship quality of monogamous and polyamorous individuals and couples. Then, after showing how monogamy and polyamory ultimately reinforce each other, Ferrer articulates three relational pathways to living in-between, through, and beyond the mono/poly binary: fluidity, hybridity, and transcendence. Moving beyond that binary opens a fuzzy, liminal, and multivocal relational space that Ferrer calls novogamy. In this groundbreaking book, readers will learn practical tools to not only transform jealousy, but also enhance their relational freedom while being aware of key issues of diversity and social justice. They will also learn novel criteria to evaluate the success of their intimate relationships, and be introduced to a transformed vision of romantic love beyond both monocentrism and emerging polynormativities.

As the first comprehensive, intersectional examination of consensual non-monogamy, this handbook provides evidence-based research and practice across mental health disciplines on working with consensual non-monogamous (CNM) people and relationships. Leading experts in this emerging field provide counselor educators and practicing clinicians with the authoritative, essential information they need to serve a growing—yet frequently stigmatized—client population with affirmative, research-based, ethical care. Readers will learn basic information related to the development of their own unique relational information, acquire knowledge about CNM and CNM-focused communities, discern how identity, culture, and community impact intimacy and functioning, and take away practical recommendations, insights, and tools to promote CNM-affirming practice across settings, services and populations.

As the first comprehensive, intersectional examination of consensual non-monogamy, this handbook provides evidence-based research and practice across mental health disciplines on working with consensual non-monogamous (CNM) people and relationships. Leading experts in this emerging field provide counselor educators and practicing clinicians with the authoritative, essential information they need to serve a growing—yet frequently stigmatized—client population with affirmative, research-based, ethical care. Readers will learn basic information related to the development of their own unique relational information, acquire knowledge about CNM and CNM-focused communities, discern how identity, culture, and community impact intimacy and functioning, and take away practical recommendations, insights, and tools to promote CNM-affirming practice across settings, services and populations.

In Please Scream Quietly, professor and self-identified kinkster Julie Fennell offers an intimate, nuanced, and engaging portrayal of the lives and loves of a BDSM community. In this first-of-its-kind collective autobiography of the frequently misunderstood and often maligned BDSM subculture, Fennell’s insider perspective shows that while most people are a little bit kinky, the BDSM community teaches its members to emphasize and cherish their kinky differences. Drawing from interviews, survey data, and years of observations, Fennell showcases kinksters’ lives and loves in a captivating, vibrant, and authoritative story. She addresses questions such as: How do kinksters define their identities? How do BDSM community members construct socially meaningful identities for themselves? Are BDSM identities always experienced as sexual? How are kinky relationships and consensual nonmonogamy/polyamory experienced in the community? Fennell provides an unprecedented exploration of kinksters’ community group norms and rules, analyzing the demographics along with the behavioral and attitudinal norms in—and out—of BDSM dungeons. Fennell analyzes the multiple ways kinksters construct positive and negative social status, illustrating how the social world of kinksters is frequently quite different from outsiders’ perceptions of it.

In Please Scream Quietly, professor and self-identified kinkster Julie Fennell offers an intimate, nuanced, and engaging portrayal of the lives and loves of a BDSM community. In this first-of-its-kind collective autobiography of the frequently misunderstood and often maligned BDSM subculture, Fennell’s insider perspective shows that while most people are a little bit kinky, the BDSM community teaches its members to emphasize and cherish their kinky differences. Drawing from interviews, survey data, and years of observations, Fennell showcases kinksters’ lives and loves in a captivating, vibrant, and authoritative story. She addresses questions such as: How do kinksters define their identities? How do BDSM community members construct socially meaningful identities for themselves? Are BDSM identities always experienced as sexual? How are kinky relationships and consensual nonmonogamy/polyamory experienced in the community? Fennell provides an unprecedented exploration of kinksters’ community group norms and rules, analyzing the demographics along with the behavioral and attitudinal norms in—and out—of BDSM dungeons. Fennell analyzes the multiple ways kinksters construct positive and negative social status, illustrating how the social world of kinksters is frequently quite different from outsiders’ perceptions of it.

This book explores the unique group of elders, ages fifty-five and older, who practice some form of consensual nonmonogamy. It covers both the joys and challenges of multiple relationships for elders and explores how their relationships develop and evolve. Polyamorous elders have the complexities of juggling multiple relationships, as well as navigating all the issues of aging: managing medical conditions and disabilities (their own and/or their partners’); assuming caregiving responsibilities for aging relatives; grieving the deaths of parents, siblings, and partners; retiring from careers and starting new lives; and potentially moving into some form of senior living. Drawing from her extensive clinical and personal experience working with this population, Kathy Labriola provides anecdotes from polyamorous elders’ lives, including the constellation of relationships surrounding each individual, couple, or triad. This guide will help health care and mental health clinicians, researchers, and professionals, as well as polyamorous elders and their loved ones, better understand the concerns and diverse lifestyles of this population to better represent and support them.

This book explores the unique group of elders, ages fifty-five and older, who practice some form of consensual nonmonogamy. It covers both the joys and challenges of multiple relationships for elders and explores how their relationships develop and evolve. Polyamorous elders have the complexities of juggling multiple relationships, as well as navigating all the issues of aging: managing medical conditions and disabilities (their own and/or their partners’); assuming caregiving responsibilities for aging relatives; grieving the deaths of parents, siblings, and partners; retiring from careers and starting new lives; and potentially moving into some form of senior living. Drawing from her extensive clinical and personal experience working with this population, Kathy Labriola provides anecdotes from polyamorous elders’ lives, including the constellation of relationships surrounding each individual, couple, or triad. This guide will help health care and mental health clinicians, researchers, and professionals, as well as polyamorous elders and their loved ones, better understand the concerns and diverse lifestyles of this population to better represent and support them.

177 Lovers and Counting: My Life as a Sex Researcher offers a transcultural perspective on gender and sexuality through engaging personal accounts of the author’s participant-observation research in multiple countries and cultures across the globe. Dr. Leanna Wolfe draws from anthropology, sexology, evolutionary psychology, and sociology, effortlessly weaving together personal stories along with qualitative and quantitative cross-cultural studies to shed light on relationships, genders, and sexualities. In this autoethnography that is both personal and clinical, Wolfe describes and analyzes personal experiences conducting participant-observation research toward understanding the social context of sex, gender, and relationships. She provides insight through personal, intimate storytelling, revealing many varieties of love, sex, and relationships across cultures and subcultures, and how these insights might impact her readers’ lives, just as they have impacted her own.

177 Lovers and Counting: My Life as a Sex Researcher offers a transcultural perspective on gender and sexuality through engaging personal accounts of the author’s participant-observation research in multiple countries and cultures across the globe. Dr. Leanna Wolfe draws from anthropology, sexology, evolutionary psychology, and sociology, effortlessly weaving together personal stories along with qualitative and quantitative cross-cultural studies to shed light on relationships, genders, and sexualities. In this autoethnography that is both personal and clinical, Wolfe describes and analyzes personal experiences conducting participant-observation research toward understanding the social context of sex, gender, and relationships. She provides insight through personal, intimate storytelling, revealing many varieties of love, sex, and relationships across cultures and subcultures, and how these insights might impact her readers’ lives, just as they have impacted her own.

What is compersion? Is it the “opposite” of jealousy, as it is usually believed? Is it an emotion or a behavior? What causes it to arise and bloom? Can we “learn” compersion or invite more of it into our lives?Based on her seminal research with consensually non-monogamous (CNM) individuals, Dr. Marie Thouin unravels these questions and more in the first-ever book to offer a comprehensive model of compersion and a practical road map to cultivating it. Each chapter features compelling stories from real CNM people, making this a captivating and highly applicable read. In addition, Thouin addresses the broader social context, explaining how understanding compersion is a groundbreaking step toward a world that supports relational diversity and freedom. By disrupting the idea that jealousy is the only valid response to intimacy beyond monogamy, the existence and practice of compersion builds the foundation for a completely new paradigm of loving relationships. This book and its conclusions have profound implications for many fields of study and practice including psychology, sexuality studies, philosophy and ethics, and law. Indispensable for CNM individuals, therapists, counselors, and scholars, this book is also invaluable for anyone curious to learn about positive empathy, intentional relationships, and radical love.

This guidebook is designed to increase readers’ personal resilience, self-acceptance, and growth from minority stress. Readers are encouraged to clarify their beliefs and improve their relationship with themselves to develop self-awareness, self-value, and self-direction. Conflicts can be resolved as readers develop knowledge of themselves and others and consider resilient ways of experiencing sexual and/or gender diversity. The LGBTQIA+ Peacemaking Book Project offers two guidebooks, Feel Secure in Yourself and Relate to Others with Confidence, and twelve e-resources self-published by each set of chapter coauthors. The chapter coauthors are scholars, clinicians, and/or community leaders, with differing and sometimes politically opposing viewpoints. They collaborated to find common ground, reduce prejudice, and improve LGBTQIA+ health and self-development for a wide range of readers. These self-help resources are written for the general public and can be used by academics, clinicians, researchers, religious leaders, parents, and other providers who want to learn updated and integrated ideas and skills about sexuality, gender, race and ethnicity, faith and purpose of life, emotional health, resilience, and relationships. This book project is a social experiment of bridge-building and hope to empower readers with identity and skill development and to reduce the side-taking that impairs growth.

This guidebook is designed to increase readers’ personal resilience, self-acceptance, and growth from minority stress. Readers are encouraged to clarify their beliefs and improve their relationship with themselves to develop self-awareness, self-value, and self-direction. Conflicts can be resolved as readers develop knowledge of themselves and others and consider resilient ways of experiencing sexual and/or gender diversity. The LGBTQIA+ Peacemaking Book Project offers two guidebooks, Feel Secure in Yourself and Relate to Others with Confidence, and twelve e-resources self-published by each set of chapter coauthors. The chapter coauthors are scholars, clinicians, and/or community leaders, with differing and sometimes politically opposing viewpoints. They collaborated to find common ground, reduce prejudice, and improve LGBTQIA+ health and self-development for a wide range of readers. These self-help resources are written for the general public and can be used by academics, clinicians, researchers, religious leaders, parents, and other providers who want to learn updated and integrated ideas and skills about sexuality, gender, race and ethnicity, faith and purpose of life, emotional health, resilience, and relationships. This book project is a social experiment of bridge-building and hope to empower readers with identity and skill development and to reduce the side-taking that impairs growth.

This guidebook is designed to increase readers’ social resilience and assertiveness in response to minority stress. It highlights the need for belonging and community building and a safe, collaborative, and peaceful coexistence with our diverse, pluralistic cultures.The LGBTQIA+ Peacemaking Book Project offers two guidebooks, Feel Secure in Yourself and Relate to Others with Confidence, and twelve e-resources self-published by each set of chapter coauthors. The chapter coauthors are scholars, clinicians, and/or community leaders, with differing and sometimes politically opposing viewpoints. They collaborated to find common ground, reduce prejudice, and improve LGBTQIA+ health and self-development for a wide range of readers. These self-help resources are written for the general public and can be used by academics, clinicians, researchers, religious leaders, parents, and other providers who want to learn updated and integrated ideas and skills about sexuality, gender, race and ethnicity, faith and purpose of life, emotional health, resilience, and relationships. This book project is a social experiment of bridge-building and hope to empower readers with identity and skill development and to reduce the side-taking that impairs growth.