About Imago Therapy:
The Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) Model was
developed by Harville Hendrix, PhD., and his wife Helen LaKelly Hunt,
PhD., after many years of research and active practice with couples in
marital therapy. In 1979, Harville Hendrix published the book "Getting
the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples". He appeared on the Oprah
Winfrey show numerous times and was named Oprah's favorite marital
therapist. He has since founded Imago Relationships International to
help in the teaching and training of qualified therapists worldwide to
become Certified Imago Relationship Therapists.
For more information
about Harville Hendrix, his wife Helen LaKelly Hunt, or Imago Therapy,
you can visit:
www.gettingtheloveyouwant.com
Imago Therapy Difference:
Unlike other models of marriage, family or individual counseling, Imago
Therapy believes the couple knows the solutions that will work best for
their own unique needs and situation. Love At Home Counseling teaches
the couple how to do the work with each other so they can eventually
become successful enough to no longer need a therapist.
Seating
arrangements:
Imago Therapy Sessions are set-up with the couple facing
each other. This allows the partners to be face to face, knee to knee,
and heart to heart. It creates a sacred space between the partners that
is open to receiving what the other has to send. The therapist's chair
is facing the couple so she can teach and facilitate the Imago
processes. Anaka believes it is an honor and a privilege to be present
with a couple, and to play a role in their healing and growth.
Getting
Started:
Most couples who come to therapy want help NOW! Often they
have waited a long time before seeking professional help, and may have
years of hurt and pain built up. They are often desirous to address the
big problems first and find solutions fast. Unfortunately, this method
of attempting to solve problems usually continues to feed the negative
communication cycle that has begun long ago, and tends to cause
additional hurt, frustration, and hopelessness.
In contrast to this,
Imago Therapy focuses on rebuilding the ruptures in connection rather
than focusing on a particular problem that needs a solution. This
approach may appear to be indirect to some, when in reality it is a
direct approach to improving the quality of the relationship. Once
reconnection is established, the quality of communication improves, and
problems naturally become less intense.
Initial Interview:
Before
beginning regular sessions, we start with an interview style session
where the therapist gets basic background information about the couple
and finds out how each partner is contributing to the other's
frustrations. The topic of frustrations is addressed in this manner to
avoid directing blame, shame, or criticism to the partner. This allows
the therapist to build a safe environment where both partners are
accountable for their own behaviors, and they strive to be responsible
for each other's safety.
Frustrations are viewed as the words we use to
express our unmet needs.
As couples experience reconnection, they
become more willing and able to meet each others previously unmet
needs. As a result frustration levels decrease, defenses are lowered,
and mutual growth and healing occurs.
Addressing Family of Origin:
Some modalities
do not place much importance of the past on what is happening in the
present. For the most part, Imago Therapy bases it's theory on the
premise that our childhood wounds or unmet needs have a direct impact on
our partner selection, as well as the difficulties we face in
relationship with our chosen partners. In order to get a fuller picture
of how couples arrived at where they are today, the therapist needs to
know where they came from.
Couple's Dialogue:
Once background on the
couple has been established, it is time to lay the foundation for
effective communication through the use of Couple's Dialogue. The
Couple's Dialogue is the main therapeutic tool, and the base for all
other Imago Processes.
