The Mental Load in Polyamorous Relationships
Many people are familiar with the “mental load” in traditional relationships — keeping track of chores, calendars, and emotional needs. In polyamorous relationships, the mental load can multiply, with additional partners, schedules, and agreements to navigate.
In couples therapy North Sydney and couples therapy North Shore, this often comes up as feelings of exhaustion, resentment, or imbalance.
What the Mental Load Looks Like in Polyamory
It might mean:
One partner always managing communication between metamours.
A single person carrying the responsibility for scheduling and logistics.
Someone holding the emotional weight of everyone else’s needs while neglecting their own.
When left unspoken, this imbalance can lead to burnout, even in otherwise loving connections.
Sharing the Load Fairly
In therapy, couples and polycules often explore:
Explicit conversations about roles. Who is taking on what, and is it sustainable?
Agreements about equity. Not everything has to be equal, but it should feel fair.
Permission to set limits. Saying no doesn’t mean you love less — it means you’re protecting your capacity.
Couples Therapy North Shore and North Sydney
At The Embodied Mind Collective, we help clients name and rebalance the invisible work that keeps relationships running. In alternative relationships, fairness isn’t about sameness — it’s about conscious choices that support everyone’s well-being.
🌿 Learn more about couples therapy in North Sydney at www.theembodiedmind.com.au.
