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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My journey first started as an Imago client and I found the method so useful I found a group to train with. Imago theory uses the “unconscious image [Imago] of familiar love” to help map out why misunderstandings occur for the couple and how to use the relationship to change the pattern to one of understanding each other's perspective. It is simple but hard work. Imago respects that the conflict in the relationship is change trying to occur rather than malicious intent.

— Chris Hermesch, Counselor in Kansas City, MO

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

— Samantha Tenner, Therapist in Denver, CO
 

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 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
 

Imago Therapy provides you with skills to mirror, validate, and empathize with your partner and building effective communication.

— Cassandra Hesse, Counselor in Austin, TX

Imago relationship therapy (IRT) endeavors to equip couples with the communication skills necessary to relate to each other in healthy ways, while additionally revealing the emotional pathway formed in childhood that led them to their current relationship frustrations. This approach invites examining the conflict itself; encourages the couple co-create a satisfying solution, heal, and grow together.

— Gwenevere Abriel, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Coconut Creek, FL
 

Having a partner who REALLY listens to you can make the difference in whether a disagreement becomes a fight. We'll use techniques developed by the Harville and Helen Hendrix to improve communication, which includes listening to really understand, rather than just waiting to fire back a rebuttal.

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

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

I now offer a nine-week online psychoeducational program that serves both as a self-study program for those couples who wish to work on their relationship at home, working at their own pace, as well as an introduction to couples counseling, teaching the skills and tools needed to make couples counseling really beneficial and successful. I particularly enjoy working with couples from different cultural backgrounds. Inter-cultural relationships offer unique challenges to couples.

— Brooke Randolph, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Indianapolis, IN
 

"Imago Relationship Therapy helps remove the blame, shame and criticism common in negative relationship patterns and transform your relationship into one full of understanding and deep connection. We teach you to understand your relationship triggers and reactive behaviors that may stem from unmet needs and how to respond to your partner in a healthy way that benefits you both (From Imago Relationships North America Website)."

— Andy Dishman, Licensed Professional Counselor in MARIETTA, GA

Imago relationship therapy is a form of couples therapy that helps those in committed relationships work out their misunderstandings, reduce conflict, and rediscover ways to bond, create joy, communicate effectively, and find common ground by learning to recognize how early childhood relationship experiences affect how we communicate, behave, and respond to others in adult relationships. By engaging into a structured dialogue to be truly appreciated, heard and understood by your partner.

— Nikki Nolet, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Del Mar, CA
 

I was introduced to Imago when I began counseling work in 2019. Since then, I have used it consistently in my practice. Understanding the process of mirroring, validation, and empathy not only gives me direction as a therapist in session, it also provides a useful guide for a couple to get to know themselves in relation. This method is great for cultivating listening skills by asking one to consider how to reflect back the content, as well as imagining the experience, from what another says.

— Dani Knoll, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist in , CA

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
 

Imago therapy will help you discover how to connect deeper to create the healthy and happy relationships you've always dreamed of having.

— Nancy Paloma Collins, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Newport Beach, CA