Ethical Non-monogamy & Open Relationships
Shannon Maricielo, LMFTA
In-person couples therapy offered on Bainbridge Island and Telehealth available across Washington State
When Your Relationship Structure Is Expanding or Under Strain
Opening a relationship or practicing ethical non-monogamy can bring excitement, possibility, and growth. It can also surface unexpected emotions, misunderstandings, and conflict.
Couples may find themselves navigating jealousy, insecurity, mismatched expectations, or broken agreements. Conversations about boundaries can become tense or avoidant. What once felt aligned may start to feel unstable or unclear.
Even couples who entered non-monogamy thoughtfully can feel unsure how to move forward when trust feels shaken or communication becomes reactive.
Why These Challenges Can Escalate Quickly
Ethical non-monogamy requires explicit agreements, ongoing communication, and emotional honesty. When expectations are unclear or boundaries are crossed, the impact can feel just as destabilizing as other forms of relational rupture.
Without structure, conversations about outside partners, time, intimacy, or transparency can become charged. One partner may feel left behind or insecure. The other may feel restricted or misunderstood. Over time, unresolved tension can erode connection inside the primary relationship.
These challenges are not signs that non-monogamy cannot work. They are signals that the relationship needs clearer agreements, stronger communication, and intentional repair.
In-Person Couples Therapy on Bainbridge Island and Telehealth offered across Washington State
What Becomes Possible With Support
Couples therapy provides a space to clarify expectations, address ruptures, and strengthen the foundation of the relationship.
Through this work, couples often experience:
Clearer agreements and boundaries
More direct conversations about needs and fears
Greater emotional safety within the relationship
Reduced jealousy through increased transparency and accountability
A stronger sense of partnership, even within a nontraditional structure
The goal is not to push couples toward or away from non-monogamy. It is to support relationships that are consensual, intentional, and grounded in mutual respect.
Who This Work Is For
This work may be helpful if you are:
Considering opening your relationship and want to do so thoughtfully
Experiencing tension, jealousy, or insecurity in an open relationship
Repairing after a breach of agreement or broken boundary
Struggling to align on expectations about time, intimacy, or disclosure
Wanting to strengthen your primary relationship while maintaining outside connections
I work with couples of many identities, including LGBTQIA+ couples and those in nontraditional relationship structures. My approach is affirming and nonjudgmental. I do not assume that one relationship model fits everyone. The focus remains on clarity, consent, accountability, and emotional safety.
This work is best suited for couples who are willing to engage honestly and take responsibility for how their choices impact one another.
Ways to Work Together
Ongoing Couples Therapy
Weekly or biweekly sessions focused on understanding patterns, strengthening connection, and creating sustainable change.
Relationship Intensives
Extended or weekend sessions for couples who want focused, efficient work in a shorter period of time.
In-Person or Telehealth
Sessions are offered on Bainbridge Island and through secure Telehealth across Washington State.
Take the Next Step
Nontraditional relationship structures can work when they are built on clarity, trust, and mutual accountability. With the right support, it is possible to strengthen your relationship while honoring the structure you choose.
If you are ready to approach this work intentionally, I invite you to take the next step.