We met on a year-long diploma in GSRD Relationship Therapy in 2014.
We were drawn together for shared laughs, political passions and conversations about all things GSRD (gender, sexual and relationship diverse).
Fast forward to 2022 and we began delivering the online module on GSRD relationships for Dominic Davis, the CEO of Pink Therapy. During this time we began imagining (aka plotting) an in-depth course about one aspect of GSRD that often gets overlooked: open relationships and polyamory. That’s how Opening Up CPD was born.
We spent hours discussing what we wanted for the course, who we wanted to engage with and why. We talked through our hopes and fears about delivering the course. Where it touched on our vulnerabilities and what we felt might call to our strengths.
We created Opening Up to be as accessible as possible, offering both an online and an in-person residential option. For the residential module, we chose Manchester—not only to challenge the London-centric nature of therapy CPD, but also to make the training more accessible to therapists based in the North. (And yes, it helped that Alex lives nearby!)
HOW WE MET
Alex sourced the venue for the in-person module, and it’s a total gem -Whitworth Locke, right in the heart of Manchester, near the vibrant Canal Street. We highly recommend it for anyone planning a visit to the city.
Another important location for us was The Proud Trust. We are happy that our money supports this wonderful LGBTQIA+ charity rather than a corporate business.
We feel incredibly lucky to have been joined by such a phenomenal group of therapists and psychologists for our inaugural 2024 course. And now, our 2025 and 2026 cohorts are continuing to shape and enrich the journey - bringing curiosity, intelligence, openness (they really took our course title to heart), and humour. The conversations have been thoughtful, the challenges constructive, the perspectives diverse, and the energy contagious.
We’re becoming a growing community of therapists, psychologists and coaches committed to working with clients in open and polyamorous relationships - with integrity, insight and heart.