[PHX, In-Person] Poly-Curious & Open Relationships 101

Learn about open relating, polyamory, ENM, and all sorts of non-monogamy! Ask all your questions! Start exploring with fewer mistakes!
About this Event

Finding Your Fit in Polyamory, Open Relationships, and Consensual Non-Monogamy

Curious about polyamory, open relationships, or consensual non-monogamy?

Maybe you’ve read the books, listened to the podcasts, or followed lots of polyamorous people online—but you still have questions about how this stuff actually works in real life.

Maybe you and a partner are thinking about opening up.

Maybe you’re single and wondering whether non-monogamy might fit you.

Or maybe you’re already practicing some form of open relating and would like more tools, language, and clarity.

Join internationally known sex and relationship educator Reid Mihalko of ReidAboutSex.com for a fun, practical, and easy-to-understand introduction to the wide world of consensual non-monogamy.

Non-Monogamy Is Not One-Size-Fits-All

One of the biggest misunderstandings about polyamory is thinking there is one correct way to do it.

There isn’t.

People use the word “polyamory” to describe many different kinds of relationships, expectations, commitments, and lifestyles. Two people can both identify as polyamorous while wanting completely different things.

Think of non-monogamy like music.

Maybe you want to play jazz. Someone else wants heavy metal. Another person wants classical music with a little disco on the weekends.

None of these styles is automatically better than another—but trying to form a band without talking about what kind of music everyone wants to play can lead to a lot of noise, confusion, and hurt feelings!

In this workshop, Reid will help you begin identifying your own Perfect Poly-Fit: the styles, agreements, needs, and relationship structures that may work best for you.

The clearer you become about the kind of non-monogamy you want, the easier it becomes to find people who want to play the same kind of “music.”

What We’ll Explore

In this fun and informative introduction, we’ll cover:

✅ Helpful definitions and vocabulary for polyamory, open relationships, swinging, relationship anarchy, and other forms of consensual non-monogamy

✅ The many different ways people build and structure non-monogamous relationships

✅ How to start figuring out which “species” or style of non-monogamy may fit you best

✅ The key ingredients that can make open relationships more workable, caring, and sustainable

✅ Common mistakes that create confusion, resentment, and regret—and how to avoid making more mistakes than you need to

✅ The differences between boundaries, rules, agreements, needs, and preferences

✅ How to create more safety by discussing expectations before assumptions take over

✅ How to navigate partners who want different styles or levels of openness

✅ How to recognize compatibility instead of relying only on attraction, chemistry, or good intentions

✅ Three practical tools that can help you through almost any non-monogamous exploration

✅ A powerful way to understand jealousy as useful information rather than proof that something has gone terribly wrong

✅ Books, resources, questions, and next steps to help you explore at your own pace

And yes—many of these tools can help people in monogamous relationships, too.

What Is the Workshop Format?

This is an in-person, lecture-style educational workshop with plenty of time for questions.

You are welcome to ask questions, but you never have to.

At a few points, Reid may invite attendees to reflect or share in small groups so they can explore and anchor the ideas being taught. These conversations are always voluntary.

You will never be required to reveal personal information, explain your relationship, or share anything you would rather keep private.

You may participate by talking, listening, taking notes, or quietly reflecting. Listening and remaining silent still count as participation.

This workshop is fully clothed. There will be no sexual activity, required touch, or explicit demonstrations.

Who Is Poly-Curious 101 For?

This workshop welcomes:

• People who are simply curious about non-monogamy
• Singles who want to better understand polyamorous dating
• Couples or partners considering opening their relationship
• People already practicing consensual non-monogamy
• People who have tried opening up and found it more complicated than expected
• Monogamous people who want better tools for communication, boundaries, jealousy, and agreements
• People of all genders, orientations, bodies, backgrounds, and relationship structures

You are welcome to attend solo, with a partner, with several partners, or with a friend.

No previous knowledge or experience is required.

Opening Up Can Be Tricky—But You Don’t Have to Figure It All Out Alone

Non-monogamy is not automatically more evolved than monogamy. It is not automatically a disaster, either.

It is a relationship choice—and like any relationship choice, it tends to work better when people have useful tools, honest conversations, realistic expectations, and compatible desires.

Mistakes will probably happen. That’s part of being human.

But why make more mistakes than you have to?

Bring your curiosity, your questions, and your sense of humor. Leave with more language, more clarity, and more confidence about what responsible non-monogamy might look like for you.

This is an educational workshop for adults age 18 and older.