Polyamory, open relationships and other forms of consensual non-monogamy are no longer conversations confined to social media or dating apps. Bangalore Mirror reports that psychologists in Bengaluru are increasingly seeing people seek therapy to understand these relationship structures and navigate the emotions that come with them — jealousy, insecurity, trust and boundaries.
The shift comes at a time when public attitudes appear to be changing. A recent Gleeden India survey found that 69% of Indians believe non-monogamous relationships are becoming more socially acceptable, with 70% of Bengaluru respondents saying the country has grown more open to them.
Neha Cadabam, Senior Psychologist and Executive Director at Cadabam's Hospitals, told Bangalore Mirror that the rise in therapy conversations should not be read as a rise in polyamory itself.
"There has been a noticeable increase in individuals and couples seeking therapy around consensual non-monogamous relationships, including polyamory. This does not necessarily mean that more people are choosing these relationship structures, but rather that they are becoming more comfortable discussing them openly and seeking professional support without fear of judgement," she said.
The emotional concerns that surface, she explained, are often the same ones seen in monogamous relationships — trust issues, insecurity and unmet emotional needs. What changes is the scale on which they have to be worked through.
"However, polyamorous relationships often require individuals to navigate these issues across multiple relationship dynamics simultaneously. Feelings of jealousy, fear of abandonment and comparison with other partners are common. Psychological distress usually arises not because of polyamory itself, but when expectations, boundaries or emotional needs are unclear or repeatedly violated," she said.
She pointed to a recent case handled by her team: a long-term couple who mutually decided to transition into a polyamorous relationship. Both partners agreed at the outset, but one later developed intense anxiety and feelings of inadequacy after the other formed a meaningful relationship with someone else.
"The challenge was not the presence of another relationship but the absence of structured conversations about emotional expectations, reassurance and boundaries," she said.
Through therapy, the couple learnt to identify emotional triggers, communicate their needs openly, and set clear agreements around time, transparency and regular emotional check-ins. Individual counselling addressed the underlying attachment insecurities. Over time, they reported feeling emotionally safer, experienced fewer conflicts, and grew more confident in managing their relationship.
The larger message for clinicians is the same regardless of relationship structure: whether monogamous or polyamorous, a relationship holds together on honesty, communication, consent and mutual respect.
At Cadabam's Hospitals, our team offers couples therapy, individual counselling and relationship support for people navigating attachment insecurities, jealousy, and questions of boundaries and emotional expectations — in any relationship structure. If this feels familiar, our team is here to help.