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Imago Relationship Therapy is an integrated theory and process for working with couples, parents, children and others who seek to enhance the relationships they share. Based on the groundbreaking work of Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., and Helen LaKelly Hunt, Ph.D., co-authors of Getting the Love You Want, Keeping the Love You Find, Receiving Love, and Giving the Love That Heals, Imago therapy is a wonderfully effective and safe approach to helping relationship partners grow into understanding each other more fully and relating more honestly as they evolve into greater wholeness as individuals within the relational context they share. Imago is also relevant for single individuals as we are all in many relational contexts. Imago relationship therapy is particularly helpful to single individuals when experienced in a group therapy process. |
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| The basic principles of Imago Relationship Therapy are as follows: |
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Deep in our unconscious mind, we have a composite image of all of the positive and negative traits of our primary caretakers. This is called the Imago. It is the unconscious blueprint of the one with whom we seek to enter into a committed, intimate relationship.
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We seek a partner who is an "Imago match," that is, someone who matches up with the unconscious composite image of our primary caretakers. This is important because we enter into a committed relationship for the purpose of healing and finishing the unfinished business of childhood. Our parents are the ones who inadvertently wounded us, but a primary love partner, who matches their traits, becomes their stand-in for the healing process to commence.
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- The first two stages of a committed relationship, "romantic love" and the "power struggle," are entered into unconsciously for the purpose of healing childhood wounds.
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The goal of Imago Relationship Therapy is to align our conscious mind, which seeks safety and happiness, with the agenda of the unconscious mind, which is driven toward growth and healing. Thus, the goal of therapy is to assist clients to develop conscious, intimate, committed relationships in which growth and healing can occur.
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It takes commitment, courage, consciousness, patience, and love to create a safe, loving, and passionate relationship.
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| For additional information about Imago Relationship Therapy, check out the following website which has information, articles, books, etc., about IMAGO theory and practice. |
www.gettingtheloveyouwant.com
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Note: If you are a therapist, you will find information about the clinical training on the IRI Website. In order to be considered for the clinical training, you must have attended a Getting the Love You Want Couples Weekend as a prerequisite.
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