title: Negotiated nonmonogamy and male couples.
abstract: One issue that has the potential to confound family or couples therapists working with male couples is the issue of nonmonogamy. For many therapists, sexual nonexclusivity challenges fundamental clinical assumptions that "affairs," or extra-relationship sex or romantic involvements, are symptoms of troubled relationships and are always a form of "sexual acting out." This article explores the issue of sexual exclusivity and nonexclusivity within male couples. In order to achieve both clinical and cultural competency in work with male couples, therapists need to challenge their cultural biases regarding monogamy.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shernoff
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003075:Coitus; D019546:Couples Therapy; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003469:Culture; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005196:Family Therapy; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D017008:Negotiating; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*