Imago Relationship Therapy

Imago relationship therapy, developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt, focuses on collaboratively healing childhood wounds couples share. Imago takes a relationship approach, rather than an individual approach, to problem solving in a marriage. Imago is founded on the belief that there is often a connection between the frustrations experienced in adult relationships and early childhood experiences. By exploring and creating an understanding for each other’s feelings and “childhood wounds”, you can begin to heal yourself and your relationship, and move toward a more conscious partnership. Think this approach might work for you? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s imago relationship therapy experts today.

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While I do use other modalities for relationship therapy, such as Gottman and EFT, I find the techniques and exercises used in Imago therapy, which is best suited for helping clients take more control of their own healing process.

— Brent Armour, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in HOUSTON, TX

I work with couples using the couples dialogue, helping them to feel heard and understood, with the goal of engaging in healthy conflict and having a strengthened relationship.

— Candice N. Crowley, LPC, Licensed Professional Counselor in Cincinnati, OH
 

This is a specific kind of relationship therapy that is designed to help conflict within relationships. We learn about the individual's own past wounds and how it maybe affecting their parter/relationship. Through this process we learn about personal triggers that are impacting the relationship.

— Fatemah Dhirani, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York, NY

Imago relationship therapy (IRT) aims to equip couples with the tools necessary to relate to each other in healthier ways and reveal the emotional pathway formed in childhood that led them to their current situation. This form of therapy combines spiritual and behavioral techniques with Western psychological methodologies in order to assist couples in unveiling their unconscious components.

— David Yellen, Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Candidate in brooklyn, NY
 

I engage in IMAGO relationship therapy often with couples to help them connect, attach, and communicate more effectively.

— Samantha Tenner, Therapist in Boulder, CO

When your partner REALLY listens to you, a disagreement need not become a fight. We'll use Harville & Helen Hendrix's communication techniques to listen to understand, rather than just waiting to fire back a rebuttal. So often, we aren't even fighting about the same thing. Having help to slow down and stay on the same track has made all the difference for couples' relationships. I have heard "I just wish we'd done this sooner," as I work with couples to re-build connection.

— Kathryn Gates, Marriage & Family Therapist in Austin, TX

One of the biggest problems couples have are boundary violations. This is not always an intentional act, however, the experience tends to be frustrating. Through Imago therapy, you and your partner will learn to respect one another's boundaries, mirror during conversation to build understanding as this should be the focus in conversation. Validation and empathy are focuses in the treatment so that a strong bond can be secured via understanding and learning to communicate in a healthy manner.

— Brian Shrawder, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Wellsboro, PA
 

Imago Therapy teaches couples Imago Dialogue to help them listen to, and validate each other. Imago Dialogue is extremely powerful. Through Imago, couples trace current patterns back to childhood experiences. This process heals childhood wounds and in turn, fixes problems in current relationships. We provide individual couples counseling sessions using Imago Therapy.

— Brianna Brunner, Clinical Social Worker in Manalapan, NJ

I've seen the positive difference Imago makes for couples. It not only helps couples learn to communicate in a very helpful way, it also leads and teaches them to be curious, rather than reactive, about their areas of growth. They learn how conflict helps them develop deeper compassion and empathy in their relationship.

— Nichole Hart, Counselor in Silverthorne, CO
 

Imago Relationship Therapy provides couples and families with a safe structure to co-create a healthy, loving and mature relationship where all parties feel heard and understood. Imago is unique in several ways; it provides a dialogical process that you will continually use to connect and heal.

— Thavone Huinil, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Grand Rapids, MI

There is a link between frustrations in adult relationships and our experiences growing up. Childhood feelings of abandonment, suppression or neglect will often arise in an intimate relationship. When partners meet wounds with defensiveness and reactivity it can overshadow the positives in a relationship and lead to feelings of disconnection, pain and dis-empowerment. Imago Relationship Therapy aims to help couples learn to shift out of the power struggle and into loving connection.

— Cindy Ricardo, Counselor in Boynton Beach, FL
 

Our partners push our buttons. But you know something, they’re actually supposed to! Because it’s with our partners that we sometimes work out the Childhood stuff that we never got. The problem is, your partner may not know that this was part of the job description Let’s get on the same team so you and your partner can help each other grow up and heal and thrive. Because intimacy isn’t sex. It’s when you see each other warts and all and are committed to helping each other grow and thrive.

— Alicia Salzer, Psychiatrist

A specialty that I offer is working with couples utilizing Imago Relationship Therapy. I offer hour and a half long sessions for 150$ via tele-health. Imago relationship therapy offers couples a new beginning, a way to connect, restore safety, end conflict, and helps couples understand their purpose in this cosmic journey together. Imago Relationship Therapy utilizes dialogues in order to help clients move from the power-struggle stage of their relationship toward a conscious partnership.

— Natalya Sivashov, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Pasadena, CA