Polyamory, Agápē, and the Therapy Room

As someone who identifies as a solo polyamorist, I see polyamory as more than a relationship structure. It feels like a way of life, a practice of openness, and a recognition that love is abundant. Love does not run out when it is shared. Instead, it expands. This is something I carry not only in my personal relationships but also into my work as a therapist.

Polyamory has taught me how to hold multiple truths and multiple connections with care. In therapy, this shows up as what Carl Rogers described as unconditional positive regard. It is the ability to meet each person with respect and acceptance without judgment. When I sit with clients, I am drawing from the same well of love that guides my polyamorous identity. This love is expansive and rooted in the belief that every person deserves to be seen and supported in becoming fully themselves.

The ancient Greeks called this kind of love agápē. It is a love for humankind, unconditional and selfless. Agápē is not about desire or possession. It is about extending compassion simply because we are human. For me, therapy has become one of the most meaningful ways to live out agápē. It is how I funnel the love I hold in my heart into the greater good, offering it as a resource for healing and growth.

Being both a solo polyamorist and a therapist means embracing complexity while staying connected to something simple and powerful. Love heals. The love I bring into my practice is not meant to replace the love my clients already hold within themselves. It is there to help spark it, so that together we can nurture growth, resilience, and a deeper connection to the self and others.

Warm regards,
Belle Love