What is Imago Relationship Therapy?
'Imago' is a Latin term for 'image' which, in this theory, is interpreted as a composite picture of the people who most influenced an individual at an early age. Developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and his wife Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt and popularized in their books, Getting the Love You Want and Keeping the Love You Find, it has also been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and in her book, Live Your Best Life.

http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_past_20011206_b.jhtml

***Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. appears on the Oprah Winfrey Show on April 29, 2008***

Imago Relationship Theory will help one discover insights and awareness into one's relationships and provide hands-on skills to utilize when negotiating ways to connect with others. This form of counseling suggests that a committed relationship such as marriage is therapy- a person can become healed not by a counselor but by the relationship itself.

Dr. Hendrix believes that an individual unconsciously chooses a partner, an 'Imago match,' who has positive and negative traits similar to one's primary caregivers. This partner has the potential to help the individual heal unresolved pain from childhood which often resurfaces in a long term relationship or marriage - and is the core of what is causing pain and conflict in a relationship. Because one's partner, i.e., Imago match, is similar to one's childhood caregivers in emotionally significant ways, the partner is often the best person to help one heal. Imago Relationship Therapy offers specific communication tools that allow both partners to feel safe and connected as they work through challenging situations. It also provides insight into how past relationships influence the present one.

Imago relationship therapy is for couples who are:

Experiencing difficulties and want to resolve their conflicts;
Beginning a relationship;
Want to enrich their relationship; or
Considering divorce but want to find out if they can work things out.

Imago is also for individuals who want to:

Understand why past relationships didn't work;
Create satisfying and fulfilling relationships in the future;
Change thinking patterns that don't work; and/or
Create a personal growth plan.

Imago Relationships International: www.ImagoRelationships.org