About Imago
Imago Relationship Therapy
"Rediscover the joy, and spiritual potential of relationships.”
Why Imago?
Do you relate to any of the following:
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• My partner and I have the same arguments over and over
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• Nobody makes me feel as bad/hurt as my partner
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• Sometimes I explode with anger, or shut down and withdrawal, to protect myself
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• I don’t feel safe being myself in my relationship
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• We lost the closeness and intimacy we had at the start
There are many forms of marriage/couples counseling available. So what makes Imago special?
Whether you are a couple seeking counseling, or a therapist wanting to be more effective in your work with clients, we believe that Imago offers a unique approach that will be extremely helpful for you. Let’s begin with our understanding of the term “Imago”. Imago is Latin for the word “image”, and has to do with the fact that we all carry into adulthood our experiences from childhood, and particularly, our family. In simple terms: our family environment laid the groundwork for how we see the world, and what we experience in our relationships with others. For example, if you grew up in a family where there was a lot of criticism, you will likely be sensitive to criticism, and see it in your partner. Likewise, if you felt neglected then, you will likely feel neglected, at times, now. Our deepest hurts with our partner always have some connection with our past. In Imago, we aim to help you understand what these “wounds” are in yourself, and in your partner, so that you can act more intentionally to meet each other’s needs, rather than constantly re-injuring each other.
Imago approaches problems on the emotional, rational, and behavioral levels. We find that a deep understanding of each other’s feelings and experiences is crucial to being able to empathize and understand each other. We also recognize that we often need to change our behaviors to give and get what we really want. As you learn in this process, the good news is that such change is not only possible, but leads to valuable growth and healing for both parties. We find that our partner’s requests for change often challenge us to grow into some neglected part of our Self. For example, your partner may want you to be more expressive of love or caring. You might protest: “Well, this is just the way I am”. We would encourage and support you in learning new behaviors to express your loving side in a safe environment, free of blame and criticism.
If you are seeking this type of work, we encourage you to find a qualified, certified Imago Relationship Therapist. If you are a therapist and want to help others using this method, we encourage you to attend our Basic Clinical Training so that you will have a high level of competency using this approach.
