

{"id":99377,"date":"2024-05-10T09:47:25","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T09:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=99377"},"modified":"2024-05-10T09:47:44","modified_gmt":"2024-05-10T09:47:44","slug":"triad-relationship-counseling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/marriage-preparation\/triad-relationship-counseling\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Triad Relationship Counseling &#038; Its Advantages"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99380\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2198685583.jpg\" alt=\"Happy friends \" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&rsquo;s hard to know what we&rsquo;re feeling, let alone what others are feeling. Nevertheless, for successful relationships, we need emotional openness and a sense of safe vulnerability. <\/span><b>Triad relationship counseling teaches you new ways to enable that and overcome old habits of unhelpful behaviors to <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/ways-to-deepen-your-connection-with-your-partner\/\"><b>deepen your relationships<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To understand the different aspects of triad relationships a bit better, read further and understand the nuances that it may contain.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-is-a-triad-relationship\"><\/span><b>What is a triad relationship?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the phrase suggests, a triad relationship is a group of 3 people who are connected through an intimate bond. This is usually sexual or romantic. It can also be platonic and simply, loving.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key is that you have a deeper and more intimate bond than with others in your social circle. Most importantly, <\/span><b>you are all bound together through a solid understanding of what consensual means as well as how you <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/faithfulness-definition-in-marriage\/\"><b>define faithfulness<\/b><\/a><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned, all three people need to be emotionally open and to feel safe within the relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dropping our masks and laying our emotions out can be scary for all of us. Moreover, in a triad relationship, there are three sets of needs, fears and desires to balance. This can be incredibly fulfilling. But sometimes we need to turn to triad relationship counseling for guidance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><div class=\"research_highlight\"><p>As this article on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psypost.org\/why-do-people-seek-polyamorous-relationships-researchers-identify-key-motivations\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">why people search polyamorous relationships<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> explains,<\/span><b> participants in a study explained that it can be impossible to rely on one person to meet all your needs.<\/b><\/p><\/div><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, there&rsquo;s also the sexual motivation as well as the ability to love and show affection in more than one way. All agreed that honesty and openness were key to triads.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, how can counseling for triad relationships help with honesty and openness?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Whether you&rsquo;re curious about triad relationships or your current partner would like to explore them, counseling can guide you to explore your own needs and fears and how they might prevent you from being honest and open<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, when do your defense mechanisms get triggered?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The more we know our triggers, the more we can heal our past pain and become more true to ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you work through triad relationship counseling, you&rsquo;ll deepen trust, communication and overall satisfaction in your triad.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"wporg-box\"><div class=\"\"><span class=\"wporg_heading\">RELATED READING : <\/span><span class=\"wporg_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/therapy\/learning-in-relationship-counseling\/\" title=\"15 Things You Learn in Relationship Counseling\">15 Things You Learn in Relationship Counseling<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types-of-triad-relationships\"><\/span><b>Types of triad relationships<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99379\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/1078414055.jpg\" alt=\"Young friends having dinner \" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><b>Triad relationships are a type of polyamory partnership where there is a deep, intimate bond between three people.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within triads, there are various types based on whether they are open or closed and the level of intimacy between each of the three partners.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>A closed triad is when all three people are exclusive to each other. Essentially, there are no other sexual activities outside the triad.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In contrast, <\/span><b>an open triad is where all three partners are intimate with each other. They also have sexual relations with others outside the triad.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How these definitions work is unique to each triad including who lives with each other and who knows and interacts with others outside the triad. Either way, the boundaries and rules have to be defined and agreed by all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Another term you might come across is the V triad. In this case, one partner is the central point. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both other people have an intimate bond and usually a sexual relationship with that central figure but not with each other. Those people are then said to be metamours.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>As you can imagine, any breach of boundaries or misunderstanding of the rules can cause confusion and suffering.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Consequently, triad relationship counseling can be a powerful approach to allow everyone to establish their needs and agree potentially new rules and boundaries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, not everyone needs or wants triad relationship counseling. Nevertheless, emotions can be triggered and rules can suddenly be brought into question.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><div class=\"research_highlight\"><p>For example, as this NPR article on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/10\/09\/1044018004\/jealousy-relationships-emotions\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">jealousy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> explains, we can all get hit by this complex emotion when we least expect it. <\/span><b>We all have insecurities, no matter how small, that can sometimes throw us off kilter. And so, counseling for polyamorous triads steps in.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-is-the-format-of-the-different-triad-relationships\"><\/span><b>What is the format of the different triad relationships?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Triad relationships can be structured and hierarchical or they can be flat and flow with whatever is going on in that moment in time for each person. Each approach has its pros and cons. What matters most is getting it right for the people involved.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life is hard though and the triad might start off with the right dynamics for everyone but things happen along the way. Events can throw things off balance which is when you might want to consider triad relationship counseling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a hierarchical triad, partners are ordered in priority. So, there might be a central person, like in the V triad, and they might decide who is their priority partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naturally, this works for particular cultures and types of people. Although, generally, most people want to feel equally valued and heard. When this means changing our deep beliefs and cultural habits, partners will seek out polyamorous relationship therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-99378\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/2136217747-1.jpg\" alt=\"Group of happy woman \" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><b>Having an equal partnership between all three people can make decision-making take longer because everyone has a say but it can honor harmony.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever all three of you decide, it&rsquo;s important to make sure that no one feels forced and that everyone feels they have had their input. Otherwise, there&rsquo;s a risk of resentment and discontent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><div class=\"research_highlight\"><p>As this Berkeley News article on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/news.berkeley.edu\/2015\/03\/11\/frans-de-waal-greater-good\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research about equality<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows, our sense of fairness is innate and we crave equality even if we struggle to create it.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Again, triad relationship counseling can help you work out what equality looks like for you in your triad.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Advantages-of-triad-relationship-counseling\"><\/span><b>Advantages of triad relationship counseling<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Receiving love and support not just from one person but from two is an incredible experience and a huge privilege. Like all relationships though, it can meet with tough times.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Triad relationship counseling allows you to process your thoughts and emotions in order to find the right balance within your triad. It also means you&rsquo;ll learn tools and techniques to establish your needs and respect those of your partners.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most importantly,<\/span><b> you&rsquo;ll practice and develop wiser ways of working through disagreements.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Arguments and conflict are how we improve and change things to our benefit if we know how to do it well. It&rsquo;s simply another skill to learn.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With triad relationship counseling, you&rsquo;ll also explore each other&rsquo;s<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gottman.com\/blog\/the-sound-relationship-house-build-love-maps\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">love maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a concept developed by relationship experts John and Julie Gottman. These maps guide you through your partners&rsquo; inner and outer worlds. As a result, you learn how to better support each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can learn more about love equations as well as how to nurture calm, trust and commitment by listening to Dr. John Gottman himself in this video:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-uazFBCDvVw?si=QKhO277Sukw97Z-7\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">&#65279;<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"wporg-box\"><div class=\"\"><span class=\"wporg_heading\">RELATED READING : <\/span><span class=\"wporg_title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/counseling\/relationship-counseling\/\" title=\"What Is Relationship Therapy &#8211; Types, Benefits &#038; How It Works\">What Is Relationship Therapy &#8211; Types, Benefits &#038; How It Works<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can adapt all these points to your unique triad with the right counselor to guide you.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span><b>FAQs<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Triad relationships can seem complicated as they are not the assumed norm in most societies. Here are the answers to some questions that can make understanding them easier:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>What rules and boundaries work well for triad relationships?<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every triad is different and each person needs to first know what boundaries and rules they want to follow before collaborating to find a common approach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Triad relationship counseling can be particularly effective and mediating through all three partners&rsquo; discovery of their own needs and how to integrate them with each other&rsquo;s.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To discover the best polyamory counseling services, don&rsquo;t limit yourself to your immediate area but explore what&rsquo;s available online. Make sure you also test out at least 2 or 3. This can be helpful to gauge how comfortable you feel before committing.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>How to implement the triad of connection for deeper relationships?<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><b>Another useful framework that comes from neuropsychiatrist Dan Seigel is the triad of connection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Siegel is an expert on interpersonal neurobiology and his approach is that we aren&rsquo;t just a mind and a body.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are also our relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Energy and information are constantly flowing between our minds, bodies and relationships. As such, the more we understand how all those points interconnect, through triad relationship counseling for instance, the deeper our well-being and our relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>The three points of this triad of connection, according to Siegel, are perceiving, or being aware of our partners&rsquo; mental state, making sense and responding.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> In other words, what assumptions do we jump to and how does that impact our response?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siegel takes this a step further and talks about<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/drdansiegel.com\/mindsight\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mindsight<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is more than just mindfulness. It&rsquo;s how we use what we perceive in order to respond wisely and compassionately.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>What is triad dating?<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Naturally, most people don&rsquo;t think of relationship counseling for threesomes when simply dating. Nevertheless, it depends on why you&rsquo;re dating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps you&rsquo;re keen to explore what a triad might look like and with whom.<\/span><b> If this is new for one of you, it can be helpful to voice your ideas and concerns with a counselor before you go too far.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>If you&rsquo;re already a couple, looking into triads shouldn&rsquo;t be a way to fix problems.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You should already be grounded and content. In that case, you might feel that you have more to give and receive as a couple.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li aria-level=\"1\">\n<h3><b>How does it feel to be in a triad relationship?<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><b>A successful triad is fulfilling and supportive. Communication is open and energy flows freely and positively between all three.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, some might need a therapist for triad relationships to learn some tools and techniques to collaborate intimately within a threesome. But that&rsquo;s normal. We all need help sometimes.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, many of us were never taught relationship techniques. So, if you feel a triad is for you, counseling can guide you through some major questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final-thoughts\"><\/span><b>Final thoughts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We all need relationships and people around us. What that looks like is different for each of us. <\/span><b>When a triad feels potentially right for you but you&rsquo;re unsure how it might work, triad relationship counseling can be particularly useful.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such counseling guides you through how to collaborate through conflict and how to agree rules and boundaries. You&rsquo;ll also learn open communication and how to build trust and deep connections.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All in all, you&rsquo;ll build a deep intimate triad relationship such that you can take on the world.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&rsquo;s hard to know what we&rsquo;re feeling, let alone what others are feeling. Nevertheless, for successful relationships, we need emotional openness and a sense of safe vulnerability. Triad relationship counseling teaches you new ways to enable that and overcome old habits of unhelpful behaviors to deepen your relationships.&nbsp; To understand the different aspects of triad relationships a bit better, read further and understand the nuances that it may contain.&nbsp; What is a triad relationship? As the phrase suggests, a triad relationship is a group of 3 people who are connected through an intimate bond. This is usually sexual or romantic. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1329,"featured_media":99380,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[15],"tags":[2670],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99377"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1329"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99377"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99381,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99377\/revisions\/99381"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99380"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}