“Yes And”: Exploring the Lived Experiences of Bisexual Women in Heterosexual-Presenting Relationships

This qualitative study used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of bisexual women in heterosexual-presenting relationships. Eight self-identified bisexual women partnered with cisgender men participated in in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Three interconnected themes emerged: (a) consideration of partner dynamics; (b) seeking validation and navigating invalidation; and (c) bisexual identity development journey. Findings underscored the need for affirming, identity-informed counseling spaces, as well as future research focused on bisexual individuals in heterosexual-presenting relationships, an often-overlooked group within LGBTQIA+ mental health literature.