Dr. Lori Beth Bisbey Challenges Polyamory Misconceptions in New BBC Feature

In the piece, Bisbey defines consensual non-monogamy in direct and accessible terms. “Consensual non-monogamy is when people in a romantic relationship agree that they will not be exclusive partners with each other, and that in some form, they are able to have other partners,” she said.

“Now, often when people give this definition, they talk about sexual partners. That’s not always the case, there are people who have very deep emotional relationships that don’t include sex that they would still include under this rubric.” Bisbey also pushes back on one of the most persistent cultural assumptions around polyamory, saying, “[That] is utter rubbish. I’ve been in a non-monogamous relationship for 17 years with my now-husband and 10 years with my other partner.”

Bisbey uses the article to stress that non-monogamy is not casual, effortless or a shortcut around existing relationship issues. “It’s also not a good thing to go along with because your partner wants it. If you are insecure this will make you more insecure,” she said, adding that non-monogamy “is not a good solution to problems.” Her comments underscore a larger point running through the feature – that healthy polyamory depends less on sexual freedom than on communication, honesty, stability and intention.

Read the full article, “Having Multiple Partners Isn’t All About Sex – It’s Honesty, Logistics and a Good Calendar”, by Rowenna Hoskin, at BBC.com.

To learn more about Dr. Lori Beth Bisbey’s work, visit DrLoriBethbisbey.com and her Linktree.

Dr. Lori Beth Bisbey is a clinical psychologist, accredited advanced GSRD therapist, sex/intimacy coach, author, speaker and podcast host based in Edinburgh. With more than 30 years helping people create and sustain meaningful and exciting relationships, Dr. Bisbey specialises in GSRD (gender, sexuality, relationship diversity), is consensual non-monogamy and kink BDSM knowledgable and helps traumatised people to move from victim to survivor and back into life.

On a mission to create an open dialogue about sex, relationships and authenticity, Dr Bisbey is the Specialist Relationship Therapist on Open House: The Great Sex Experiment on Channel 4, and host of the weekly podcast The A to Z of Sex®, as well as a passionate speaker, dynamic workshop facilitator and sought-after expert in the media on the topics of sex, sexuality, intimacy, relationships and sexual trauma.

Dr. Bisbey is the author of Chopping Wood, Shaping Metal & Other Erotic Stories, Dancing the Edge to Reclaiming Your Reality: Essential Life Skills for Gaslighting (and Trauma) Survivors and Dancing the Edge to Surrender: An Erotic Memoir of Trauma and Survival, and identifies as a queer consensually non-monogamous leather woman, and is in a full-time authority transfer-based relationship with her husband. To learn more, visit DrLoriBethBisbey.com.