Open relationships can work, and they can also create problems fast when couples rush in without clarity.

In this episode of Modern Couples: What Your Therapist Never Told You, Rick and Lilian talk through what it really means to “open up” and the questions that matter before anything changes.

They cover common motivations, what tends to go wrong when couples use non-monogamy as a fix for conflict, and how to set boundaries that protect the partnership.

The conversation also explores practical realities like rules around emotional connection, privacy, home logistics, jealousy, and sexual health.