Peter Armenia
Authentic Relationship Coach
All relationships are unique, there's no one right kind of relationship. Just what's right for you and your partner(s).
Believe me, if it's right for you, it can be done. Depending on who you are and where you're at, the right path can be charted.
Everything! In many respects, the path to creating and maintaining a healthy open relationship is, at its core, a path of expanding authenticity.
IT ALL STARTS WITH ASKING SOME QUESTIONS
WHY TRUST ME?
In three words, experience, confidence and, there it is again, authenticity. I've been practicing some form of ethical non-monogamy (ENM) for over 25 years, across a variety of relationships. I've been married for 14 years, with our teen-aged daughter keeping it interesting. Like most of us, getting from there to here has been a process of challenge and growth. Talking about relationships, either my own, my partner's, or a complete stranger's just comes natural for me. And just because it comes naturally for me, I understand it's not that easy for everyone. Talking from the heart, openly and honestly, even when it's difficult, has always been fundamental for me, hence my emphasis on authenticity. I believe it's at the heart of any healthy relationship, monogamous, manogamish, polyamorous or wide open.
Way back in my college days I was somehow drawn to volunteering at the local suicide hotline, Crisis Services. During review sessions with my supervisor of the taped calls, they would comment that my voice was very calming. That struck me as odd at the time, since I saw myself as assertive and forthright. This was a great example of the amazing benefit of an outside opinion. Over the years I've had many people tell me how easy they found it telling me the most intimate things when they barely knew me. Hopefully you will feel the same way in our sessions.
I am not a psychologist or therapist, I'm here to offer you practical and actionable guidance and support on your journey into ethical non-monogamy. Of course, if you are working with a therapist, what we do will supplement that foundational work.
Just wondering if this is right for you can be daunting, let alone starting that journey with a partner. There are so many issues to sort through, how to broach the subject, dealing with social expectations and judgment, and of course jealousy to name just a few. You don't have to venture alone. I can confidently guide you (and a partner) through what seems like treacherous territory towards personal growth and fulfillment.
But what about the kids? If this wasn't daunting enough how do we manage this with kids in the mix? Well we didn't decide to have kids in the first place because it was easy. These are unique challenges you and your kids can learn and grow from. Being a father of a teenager myself I can offer thoughtful and reassuring support in navigating this with your family.
Regardless of your relationship status. be it monogamous, polyamorous or something in between, striving for authenticity, in my humble opinion, can only make things better. In fact it's the foundation of any solid relationship. Yes, it's easier said than done, but, as my daughter says, practice makes progress. Forget about perfection, we are taking steps towards more intimacy, better communication and deeper love.