Online Therapy for Open, Non-Monogamous & Polyamorous Relationships in San Francisco
We provide specialized online therapy for open, non-monogamous, and polyamorous relationships throughout California.
Whether you're exploring non-monogamy for the first time, navigating multiple partnerships, or working through challenges in your existing relationship structure, we're here to support you without judgment.
You shouldn't have to spend half your therapy session explaining what ethical non-monogamy is or defending your relationship style.
At Rising Relationship Center, we understand that fidelity is about love, trust, and respect–not necessarily exclusivity.
Ethical non-monogamy requires skill: intentional communication, clear boundaries, ongoing negotiation, and the ability to manage complex emotions across multiple relationships.
Even when you're doing everything "right," it can be incredibly challenging. You might be here because:
Jealousy is harder than you expected.
The jealousy is real and it's overwhelming. You're not sure if you're "doing it wrong" or if this means non-monogamy isn't for you. You need help making sense of these feelings without shame.
Communication needs strengthening.
There are so many conversations to have–boundaries, agreements, scheduling, emotions, needs. You're exhausted from all the processing. Or maybe you're avoiding the conversations because they feel too hard, and now things are tense or unclear.
Someone broke an agreement.
Whether it's a boundary violation, cheating within the agreed-upon structure, or just a miscommunication that led to hurt, trust has been damaged. You're not sure how to repair it or if you even can.
New relationship energy is causing problems.
One of you is in that exciting honeymoon phase with someone new, and the existing relationship is feeling the strain. There's imbalance, resentment, or feeling left behind. You want to honor the new connection, and make space for that joy, without sacrificing what you've built together.
You're questioning if this is working.
Maybe non-monogamy was one person's idea more than the other's. Maybe it worked for a while but doesn't anymore. Maybe you're realizing you want different things. You need space to figure out what's true for you without pressure.
You feel isolated or misunderstood.
Your monogamous friends don't get it. Your family definitely doesn't get it. You're navigating something outside of the norm and it's lonely.
Logistics are overwhelming.
Managing multiple relationships, calendars, emotional bandwidth, sexual health considerations, financial entanglements–it can be a lot! You want help creating systems that actually work.
If any of this resonates, you're not failing at non-monogamy. These challenges are normal in all kinds of relationships, and they're exactly what therapy can help with.
We work with people in all types of non-monogamous relationships, including:
Ethical Non-Monogamy
Open relationships
Polyamory
Relationship anarchy
Swinging
Couples exploring or transitioning to non-monogamy
Kitchen table polyamory, parallel polyamory, solo polyamory and everything in between
Common issues we help with
We’re here to help you with:
Managing jealousy, insecurity, and comparison
Developing compersion in your relationships
Creating and maintaining boundaries and agreements
Communicating across multiple relationships
Navigating new relationship energy
Working with metamour (partner's partner) dynamics
Healing from broken agreements or betrayals
Time management and capacity issues
Deciding how much to share about your relationship structure and style
Addressing power imbalances in hierarchical polyamory
Transitioning from monogamy to non-monogamy (or back)
Sexual health and safer sex practices
Processing grief and breakups within a polyamorous network
Our Approach to Queer Couples Therapy
-
We understand non-monogamy.
We're knowledgeable about the many forms that ethical non-monogamy can take, and we work to stay current with the evolving language, practices, and challenges.
-
We help you lean into tough conversations with compassion and curiosity.
Non-monogamy requires an incredible amount of communication. We help you have those hard conversations with more skill, compassion, and clarity.
-
We work with the relationship structure you have.
We're not here to talk you into or out of non-monogamy. We support you in creating the unique configuration that's right for you.
-
We address the emotions underneath the logistics.
Yes, we'll help with the practical part. But we also explore what's driving jealousy, fear, or resentment (because at the end of the day sustainable non-monogamy requires emotional work, not just better scheduling).
-
We use evidence-based methods adapted for non-monogamous relationships.
Our approach draws on the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy, but we adapt these frameworks to fit the realities of multi-partner relationships. Not everything from traditional couples therapy translates directly, and we adjust accordingly.
What to Expect in Relationship Therapy
The first session: We'll spend time getting to know you, your relationships and what you're hoping to get out of therapy. We'll also talk about your agreements, boundaries, and how your non-monogamous practice is set up.
Who attends: This depends on what you need. Sometimes we work with a primary couple or partnership. Sometimes we work with individuals navigating polyamory. We can discuss what works for your unique situation during your consultation.
Ongoing sessions: We'll help you build communication skills, work through jealousy and insecurity, negotiate or renegotiate boundaries and agreements, and address the underlying issues driving your conflict. We'll also help you make sense of your emotions—whether that's new relationship energy, fear of abandonment, or complicated feelings about a metamour.
Our commitment: You'll never feel judged for your relationship style. We're here to help you build the relationships you want, in whatever form those take.
Why Choose Rising Relationship Center?
Our practice is 100% online throughout California.
Whether you're in the Bay Area or elsewhere in California, you can access specialized support from wherever feels comfortable and safe.
We're based in San Francisco.
The Bay Area has a vibrant non-monogamous community, and we understand the specific landscape—the language, the norms, the resources, and the challenges.
We don't impose our values.
We're not here to convince you that non-monogamy is the enlightened choice or that monogamy is oppressive. We support you in building the relationships that work for you.
We're affirming and knowledgeable.
We strive to stay current with the evolving practices and conversations in non-monogamous communities.
Ready to get started?
Non-monogamy is joyful and complex, and it's okay to need support. You don't have to figure it all out on your own. Let's talk about what you're navigating and how we can help.
FAQs
-
For complete and up-to-date details about fees, insurance, sliding scale availability, and your right to receive a Good Faith Estimate, please visit our FAQ page.
TLDR: Our session fees range from $175-$235 depending on the length of your appointment and which therapist you see. We also reserve a portion of our practice for sliding scale or reduced fee structures.
We are out-of-network providers and do not accept insurance directly. However, we provide monthly superbills that clients can submit to their insurance for out-of-network reimbursement. You can also use Health Care Spending Account funds to pay for services.
-
We provide all of our services exclusively online through a secure therapy platform. This means you can access our specialized couples and relationship therapy from anywhere in California, whether you're in San Francisco, across the Bay Area, or elsewhere in the state.
Online therapy offers flexibility, convenience, and the comfort of participating from your own space, while still providing the same high-quality care as in-person sessions.
-
Both! We work with people at all stages—from "we're just curious" to "we've been polyamorous for years." Wherever you are, we can meet you there.
-
It depends on the situation. We're open to working with your unique configuration, if it makes sense for what you're working on. Let's talk about it in the consultation.
-
That's something we can definitely work on. We help couples navigate mismatches in what they want and figure out if there's a way forward that honors everyone's needs.
-
Absolutely. Non-monogamy isn't for everyone, and recognizing that isn't a failure. We support people in whatever relationship structure actually works for them.
-
Yes! Check out our Individual Therapy page for more information. We work with people who are navigating relationship challenges, attachment issues, or challenges in their polyamorous practice.