Polyamory and Polycule Therapy in London
More relationships means more needs, more schedules and more places where communication can break down. It also means more love, more support and more room to build the life you want. Therapy for polycules gives everyone involved a shared space to be heard, work through friction and strengthen the connections that matter to you. I am Mark Ryan, a BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and NCPS Accredited Relationship Therapist, and I work in person in London with triads, quads and polycules of up to four people, as well as with couples exploring or practising ethical non monogamy.
What Is Polycule Therapy?
Polycule therapy is relationship therapy for more than two people. Everyone who wants to work on the relationships attends the sessions together, and we look at the patterns and communication that shape how you relate to one another. That includes each pair within the group and the group as a whole, because a change in one connection tends to be felt in the others.
The work is the same in spirit as couples therapy, and the dynamics are richer and more complex. Polyamory takes intention, honesty and skill, and a therapist who understands that, and who does not assume monogamy is the goal, makes a real difference to how safe it feels to be honest.
Who Polycule Therapy Is For
You do not need to be in crisis, and you do not need an agreed label for what you are. People come in many situations. These are some of them.
A triad or quad that wants to communicate better, or has hit a rough patch.
A couple who are opening their relationship, or thinking about it, and want to do it well.
A group working through jealousy, a sense of being left out or an imbalance of time and attention.
A new relationship that is changing the dynamics of the existing ones.
People negotiating agreements, boundaries and expectations, and finding the old ones no longer fit.
Partners and metamours who find it hard to be in the same room, or the same group chat.
A relationship ending or changing shape, and the rest of the group working out what comes next.
If you are a couple and want to explore your own relationship, including whether to open it, see couples and relationship therapy in London.
How I Work With Polycules
I work integratively, which means I draw on more than one tradition and fit the approach to the people in the room. The influences that show up most in relationship work are Emotionally Focused Therapy, which looks at attachment and the emotional cycles that keep people stuck, psychodynamic thinking about how earlier relationships shape what we expect from love, and the principles of Imago Relationship Therapy, which centre on dialogue and on feeling seen and heard.
With more than two people, we pay particular attention to some things.
Making sure everyone has room to speak and be heard, and that no one is left to carry the group's feelings alone.
Noticing patterns that only appear in the group, such as who tends to mediate, who withdraws and who is spoken for.
Slowing conversations down so that agreements are explicit and understood in the same way by everyone.
Separating a difficulty between two people from a difficulty in the whole group.
I do not take sides, and I am not there to tell you how your relationships should be structured. I hold a certificate in Relationship Therapy and a certificate in CNM and ENM, which stand for consensual and ethical non monogamy, and my practice does not assume monogamy is the goal, or any other structure.
What to Expect
A free consultation
The first step is a free 30 minute consultation, in person or online, with everyone who plans to attend. I explain how I work, you tell me what has brought you in and what you are hoping for, and I walk you through the practical side, including booking, costs and how sessions work. It is not a therapy session. It is a chance to see whether working together feels right, with no obligation. Everyone attends together, either in the same room or on one shared video call.
Your first session
The first session lasts 50 minutes. Each person has space to say what has brought them in and what the relationships look like from where they stand. We are not trying to fix anything yet. You leave with a clearer picture of what you want from therapy and a sense of how we will work together. If you think 50 minutes will not be enough for a group, raise it at the consultation, because other session lengths can be discussed.
Sessions
I usually recommend a weekly reserved slot, because consistent contact helps the work develop. There is no fixed number of sessions, and we check in regularly about what is helping and what is not.
The room
My rooms are set up for up to four people. Each has a couch and an additional armchair. Three people are comfortable and four fit, though it is closer quarters. My rooms cannot seat more than four, so I am not able to see larger groups together.
Everyone attends
Relationship work is best when everyone involved is there. Occasionally an individual session can support the work, and we agree that in advance and share it equally between you. If I work with one person individually, I cannot later work with that same person as part of a relationship group.
What the Research Says
Research on therapy with people in consensually non monogamous relationships is still limited. As of October 2026, a PubMed search found no controlled studies of therapy outcomes with polyamorous groups, and the few papers on therapy are mostly case reports. The large analysis of couple therapy that I cite on my couples page involved only opposite sex couples, so I cannot promise that the same results carry over.
What research does exist points to something practical. A study of 249 people in consensually non monogamous relationships across the United States and Canada asked about their experiences of therapy. When clients saw their therapists as affirming of non monogamy, they rated the therapy as more helpful, and when they saw biased or inadequate practices, they were more likely to end therapy early. Open ended answers pointed to the importance of therapists having knowledge about non monogamy and using affirming, non judgemental practices (Schechinger et al., 2018). That was a survey of clients' perceptions and it cannot show cause, but it matches what I would expect. You should not have to teach a therapist what polyamory is before you can get help with it.
It also matters that you feel comfortable with the person you work with. Across 295 studies and more than 30,000 people, a stronger bond between client and therapist went with better outcomes, whatever the therapist's approach (Flückiger et al., 2018). That research covers adult psychotherapy in general. It is a reason to use the free consultation to find out whether I feel like the right fit for all of you.
When Polycule Therapy May Not Be Right
Therapy is not suitable where there is abuse, violence, coercive control or pressure to accept an arrangement you do not want. A joint conversation can put someone at risk in those situations. If you are afraid of a partner, please speak to a specialist service first. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is on 0808 2000 247 and is free and open 24 hours a day. Men's Advice Line is on 0808 8010 327, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Galop supports LGBTQ+ people on 0800 999 5428, Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, and open until 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Therapy is also not a crisis service. If anyone is thinking about harming themselves, Samaritans are on 116 123, free and open 24 hours a day, NHS 111 can help with urgent mental health needs, and in an emergency you should call 999.
Where I Work
I see polycules in person at private therapy rooms in central London. The rooms are in Kensington, Pimlico and Angel, and each can seat up to four people. Details of each room, with directions, are on its own page.
Kensington
Pimlico
Angel, Islington
Availability differs by room. If your preferred day, time or location is not free, you can join a waiting list and you will have first refusal when a slot opens. Ongoing sessions are in person, and the free consultation can be online.
Fees and Booking
Polycule therapy sessions are £160 for up to four people on a weekly reserved slot. The fee is for the session and not for each person. The free 30 minute consultation comes before you commit to anything. If cost is a genuine barrier, get in touch and we can talk about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with triads and quads?
Yes, with relationship groups of up to four people, which is what my rooms can seat. I am not able to see larger groups together.
Does everyone have to come to every session?
Everyone involved in the work attends together. Occasionally an individual session can support the process, and we agree that in advance and share it equally between you.
Do you work with people who are only thinking about opening up?
Yes. Couples who are exploring or deciding whether to open their relationship are welcome, and I do not steer you towards or away from it. Opening a relationship, what to think about looks at the questions in more depth.
Is polycule therapy different from couples therapy?
The approach is similar, and the dynamics are more complex. With more people there are more connections to hold in mind, more chances for someone to feel left out and more places where an unspoken agreement can be understood differently. Group sessions are paced so that everyone can speak and be heard.
Will you assume that monogamy is the goal?
No. My practice assumes no particular structure and no particular outcome. I hold a certificate in CNM and ENM, and my role is to help the people in the room understand what is happening between them and decide what they want.
What is the difference between an open relationship and polyamory?
An open relationship usually means a couple who agree to have sexual or romantic connections with other people. Polyamory usually means having more than one loving relationship at the same time. People use the words differently, and open relationship vs polyamory explains the differences.
Is this therapy suitable if I am struggling with jealousy?
Jealousy is a common reason people come, and it is not a sign that polyamory is wrong for you or that you are doing it badly. Therapy can help you understand what sits underneath it. Jealousy in non monogamous relationships explores this in more detail.
Can I come on my own?
Individual therapy is available, and it is a separate piece of work from relationship therapy. I cannot move from working with someone individually to working with them as part of a couple or group, so please tell me at the consultation if relationship work is likely to be what you need. Individual therapy for relationships explains more.
Do you offer online sessions or single session therapy for polycules?
Ongoing sessions are in person. I offer the free consultation online. My single session therapy is currently offered for individuals and couples, and not for groups of three or more.
About Mark Ryan
I am a BACP Accredited Psychotherapist (MBACP Accred.) and an NCPS Accredited Relationship Therapist, with certificates in Relationship Therapy and in CNM and ENM. My BACP membership number is 405397 and my NCPS number is NCPS495. Read more about me
Related Reading
Schechinger, H. A., Sakaluk, J. K., & Moors, A. C. (2018). Harmful and helpful therapy practices with consensually non monogamous clients: Toward an inclusive framework. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86(11), 879 to 891. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000349
Flückiger, C., Del Re, A. C., Wampold, B. E., & Horvath, A. O. (2018). The alliance in adult psychotherapy: A meta analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 316 to 340. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000172