As in many relationships and professions, boundaries are an important and complicated issue in sex work. In our group in July, we will continue to explore boundaries with long term clients, how emotional labor plays into boundaries, and negotiating boundaries.

Over the past dozen years or so I have encountered many folks who are trying their best to stay afloat on the often rocky boat of poly/mono relationships.

In last month’s poly support group there was a request to continue discussing the topic of sharing. I thought we might add shame to the conversation as it can be the painful result when things don’t go well.

Stigma around sex work can make it difficult for workers to know when and where it is safe to come out. This month we continue our discussion of how to navigate stigma and where it feels safe to be out. We will look at how people navigate stigma, with partners, family, and institutions, reflecting on how this relates to overall themes of stress, community, and self care.

Often over the years of practicing as a psychotherapist I’ve heard a lament about “sharing” one’s partner with another person(s). The source of much consternation, pain, worry and sometimes even joy! this topic surfaces frequently. When my children were little, I did not encourage them to share their stuff. My belief was that if they had something long enough, like a toy, a stuffed animal etc., they’d be more apt to share it when they’d had it for as long as they’d wanted it. Sometimes they did, other times not. Does this idea map on to human relationships?

As we come up on 1 year since SESTA/FOSTA was signed into law, the April Sex Worker Support Group will continue our discussion of the ways laws, policing, and social perception impact sex workers. We will reflect on safety and self care, while discussing how sex workers have adapted to legal changes and challenges. **As a reminder, there are 5 Mondays in April this year, meaning the group will be meeting on 4/29, the 5th and last Monday of the month.**

I just watched a documentary regarding stress and its impact on our well being. The executive producer, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, is a neurosurgeon and medical contributor for CNN. According to the documentary, empirical evidence points to the importance of social contact and community to well being. Perhaps in May, in addition to discussing our difficulties, we can also reflect on how polyamory enriches us and our connections to others, our sense of belonging, and well-being.

As we come up on 1 year since SESTA/FOSTA was signed into law, the April Sex Worker Support Group will continue our discussion of the ways laws, policing, and social perception impact sex workers. We will reflect on safety and self care, while discussing how sex workers have adapted to legal changes and challenges. **As a reminder, there are 5 Mondays in April this year, meaning the group will be meeting on 4/29, the 5th and last Monday of the month.**

For some of us the hi dream of polyamory is filled with multiple loving relationships, the potential for extended family, joy and fulfillment. On the other side is the lo dream where this potential is wrought with intense jealousy, feelings of being left out, isolation, and the fear and/or the reality of being replaced by new emotional attachments.

Both here in Chicago and beyond, sex workers face unique challenges with shifting laws, policies, and policing. At our March meeting we will discuss work in the context of police and social control.

For some of us the hi dream of polyamory is filled with multiple loving relationships, the potential for extended family, joy and fulfillment. On the other side is the lo dream where this potential is wrought with intense jealousy, feelings of being left out, isolation, and the fear and/or the reality of being replaced by new emotional attachments.

If you are a polyamorous parent or parenting partner in polyamorous relationship and would like to share your perceptions of your child’s or partner(s)’ child/children’s experiences and needs, please join us for a focus group on Saturday, March 2, from 12:30 to 2:30 pm.

Self care is an important practice for anyone trying to set up a sustainable work-life balance. The emotional labor and social stigma of sex work, among other challenges, make a regular self care practice all the more important for sex workers.

Toward the end of the January poly support group, several folks spoke of, and were in touch with the pain of negative messages that they’d received as children by church leaders, by family, by community. The reverberation of these early life messages may persist as internal expectations, barriers, beliefs and self-criticisms we currently tell ourselves. In our February session, we take time to think about, explore, and share experiences of significant messages that you’ve internalized about self, sexuality, relationships.

During this support group we will take the time to focus on self reflection through the process of journaling. This practice can improve stress coping and reduce anxiety. For those who want journals, we have some donated by the Chicago Books for Women in Prison which we will give out.

Some of you may be just beginning to explore polyamory, others may have been on this journey for decades, while most somewhere in between. 
Wherever you are, I imagine that the endeavor to color outside the lines may be challenging in a multitude of ways, the ways in which you were raised to be. How’s it going? Let’s get together to discuss, for support.

Hello everyone! This is an invitation to any and all who have been to the Polyamory Support group to come kick off the 10th Anniversary of this amazing community! Part of me just wants to celebrate and I know that it is a very difficult time for many of us who identify as marginalized. We are being called out in, oh, so many ways. Please come, let’s huddle if needed, and let’s celebrate this extraordinary group of extraordinary folks.

Come to our support group for sex workers, current and former. Whether you are in need of resources or support, can provide support for others or just need a space to vent, please join us!

The monthly (on Saturdays) topic is a starting place for conversation and connection. Our intention is to follow the needs and interests of those in attendance.  If you would like support or feedback on another topic or issue, please feel free to speak to a facilitator at the outset of the group or to share in the group.