Imago Relationship Therapy uses the idea that people experience specific emotional pathways in early childhood with parents or caregivers. When they marry or enter a long-term commitment with another individual, it reactivates these pathways. Because each person uses their past experiences to relate to others, partners can experience conflict if these emotional pathways aren’t explored or understood.
People’s images of what connecting to another person looks like follow them from early childhood to adulthood. If they don’t take the time to understand how these may affect them negatively, they can continue acting in the same unhealthy ways they learned to get love as children.
Imago Relationship Therapy proposes that, if handled properly, conflict can lead partners directly to a more connected, loving relationship.
In this type of couples therapy, your counselor would engage you both in the process of being present with one another to produce safety. Then, you and your partner must understand your emotional pathways from childhood and, knowing these, must recommit to your relationship. Instead of turning away from your partner during painful emotional experiences, your counselor encourages you to turn toward one another. Then, your therapist encourages you to engage with positive feelings about each other to maintain this connection.
IRT’s goals are to be safe within the relationship, communicate needs, and empathize with one another. When combined, this leads partners to grow together through conflict.
Therapists Who Specialize in Using Imago Relationship Therapy
Mirror Mental Health is here to help you navigate the bumps, detours, and overwhelming moments that come along in life's journey. It is our goal to help clients identify their strengths, realize their resiliency, and help them celebrate and honor their authenticity. We work with a wide range of clients from those struggling with depression/anxiety, trauma, psychosis, relationship/family issues,...
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The focus of my practice is to help people manage and cope better, and to help them understand themselves better in the process. I find it incredibly gratifying to be part of the healing and growth process that defines the psychotherapy experience. My patients work on relationship issues, substance abuse issues, work issues, depression and anxiety issues, and developmental issues having to do w...
Are you feeling stuck? Do the same arguments and struggles keep coming up? We are all trying to connect- with ourselves and with other people. Individuals and couples often seek therapy when the old ways of relating don't work. As an Advanced Imago Clinician, my expertise is relationships. My approach is based on a client's strength which provides a solid foundation for change and growth. I can...
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Toss out what you think about couples and individual therapy. Instead come in for easy-going and enjoyable sessions that will give you results. You will learn concrete strategies based on research, neuroscience, personality type, and my 20+ years of experience as a therapist. Get from where you are to where you want to be. I have training in Gottman Couples Therapy, Imago Relationship Therapy,...
