Imago Training (Open to the Public):
Character Growth: Working with Our Selves in Relationships
AUSTIN, TEXAS
December 13-15, 2024
This is a dynamic, in depth training that is best taken after an Imago workshop as an individual or with your partner. This is a pre-req for Imago Workshop Presenters Training and qualifies as a Core Course for Imago Advanced Therapist
Our Money Relationship: A Advanced Workshop
AUSTIN, TEXAS
January 3-5, 2025
This workshop that is best taken after an Imago workshop. It can be taken as an individual or with your partner. We will explore our unconscious beliefs about money that sneak into our lives and cause conflict in our relationships. Unpack your stories around money and find a new way to relate to money!
Clinical Training Calendar 2024-2025
Advanced Imago Training (Level Three):
From Despair to Repair
Playa Grande, COSTA RICA
Monday, April 7 – 9, 2025
This advanced training helps the therapist usher a couple through a betrayal experience with a repair process that is congruent with Imago's Relational Paradigm.
We will go on a 1/2 day tour or organize a special event between these two trainings (additional cost TBD)
Advanced Imago Training (Level Four):
The Art of Supervision (Part One of Two)
Playa Grande, COSTA RICA
Sunday, April 13 – 15, 2025
Learn how to craft feedback from the Imago lens of psychological and social adaptations and our value for growth to be a safe supervisor. To become and Certified Imago Supervisor, the Imago Therapist will record themselves supervising both individuals and groups and receive supervision.
NOTE: From Despair to Repair begins April 7-9 and the Art of Supervision April 13-15 – to save $ you can register early or for both!
Imago Clinical Training (Level One):
San Antonio, Texas
October 9-13, 2025
Introduction to Imago Relationship Therapy. This is the first of four modules for certification. A Getting the Love You Want Couples workshop is included in this training and recommended before attending this training, if possible. Certification is "Level Two" and means someone has completed all 12 days of training and the additional requirements. Scroll down for all certification requirements and to apply.
The Imago Clinical Training Method:
Step 1: Embodied, Applied Learning that penetrates self-doubt, anxiety and confusion
- Apply the relationship concepts of Imago to your own life experiences and current relationship challenges
- Experience the process that you will take your clients through, essentially “walking the walk” so that you can evaluate the relationship concepts for yourself and find ways to make everything fit for your personality strengths and clinical voice or style.
- Practice using the skills and relationship concepts with colleagues also in the learning process before you try to implement these concepts or use these new skills with clients.
Step 2: Authentic, Attuned Feedback
- Receive support for your personal strengths, which are often invisible to us (a fish doesn’t know its in water)
- Consider some practical ideas on what you can try to do differently, if you choose to.
- Your new community will offer you positive messages you can strive to grow into as you become the best version of you which will result in an authentic sense of your true clinical abilities.
Step 3: The Power of Connection
- Build real, heart-warming professional connections in a group of like-minded colleagues while you support each other’s success
- Hone your skills to listen empathically while experiencing being truly heard and understood.
- Experience a sense of belonging while receiving referrals from a global community
Imago Relationship Therapy was developed by Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. and Helen La Kelly Hunt, Ph.D., authors of the best-selling book “Getting the Love You Want”. The model has deepened and expanded over the years, and it continues to be on the cutting edge of depth relationship therapies.
In this training, you will learn:
- A comprehensive theory of relationships, and how to apply this theory in your practice working with couples.
- How to identify core relationship issues– getting beneath the surface issues so that you can create change on the deepest levels.
- A variety of powerful interventions which will increase your effectiveness and confidence working with even the most difficult couples.
- A model that teaches couples how to move “from conflict to connection”, and to utilize their relationship for growth and healing.
- Your own relationship dynamics, and how to apply this knowledge for personal growth and healing, for the enhancement of your own intimate relationships.
Certification
Requirements
To become a certified Imago Relationship Therapist and be eligible for clinical membership in Imago Relationships of North America (IRNA), you will need to:
- Attend all 12 eight-hour days of the Basic Clinical Training, and complete all course requirements including 5 supervision days, 4 of which are the Special Topic days.
- Present video samples demonstrating your use of IRT with couples and receive a positive evaluation from your trainer.
- Attend a “Getting the Love You Want” couples workshop or a "Keeping The Love You Find" workshop for individuals
- Assist at a “Getting the Love You Want” Couples Workshop within one year of course completion.
- Hold a degree in a mental health field to be a certified Imago therapist or become an Imago Educator
Admissions and Registration
Clinical Track:
Become a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist when you complete this 96-hour training which is designed for both the beginning as well as seasoned therapist. Graduate students in the fields of counseling or psychology or social work are welcome to attend, though you will not be eligible for certification until you are fully licensed.
The Structure of the Training is a powerful combination of theory, demonstration, and experiential practice and supervision. Learning occurs in a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment. Each session is separated by two to three months to allow practice and integration of the material.
Tuition: $3,000 for three modules, pay as you go for each module ($1,000) Imago workshops, supervision, and the final Imago full session recording review.
- Certification Package: $4,500 for all training days, attendance at one of Michelle Bohls' Getting The Love You Want Workshops (online version), six hours of supervision, and review of your final recording for certification.
CE Credits: 96 Texas CEUs
Research
Peer-Reviewed Articles on Imago
Aram, D., & Shlak, M. (2008). The Safe Kindergarten: Promotion of Communication and Social Skills Among Kindergartners. Early Education & Development, 19(6), pp. 865-884. doi:10.1080/10409280802516090
Feldman, D. B., & Kahn, G. B. (2009). The integration of relationship-focused group therapy with couples treatment. International journal of group psychotherapy, 59(1), pp. 109-126.
DuRousseau, D. R., & Beeton, T. A. (2015). System Level spatial-frequency EEG changes coincident with a 90-day cognitive-behavioral therapy program for couples in relationship distress. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 9(3), pp. 597-608. doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9319-7
Gehlert, N., Schmidt, C., Geigerich, V. & Luquet, W. (submitted). Randomized controlled trial of Imago Relationship Therapy: Exploring statistical and clinical significance. Submitted to The Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
Hannah, M.T., Luquet, W., McCormick, J. Galvin, K., Ketterer, K.,May, K., Hayes, R.,& Kott, L.A. (1997). Brief report: Short-term Imago therapy and changes in personal
distress. The Journal of Imago Relationship Therapy 2 (2), 55-67.
Holliman, R, Muro, L., & Luquet, W. (2015). Imago relationship therapy and accurate empathy development. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy.
Kim, D.K. (2011). The Phenomenological Study on Experience of Reconstructing the Image of God in Pastoral Ministry after the Pastor's Participation in Imago Relationship Therapy. Journal of Family and Counseling, 1(2), 1 – 22.
Love, P., & Shulkin, S. (2001). Imago Theory and the Psychology of Attraction. The Family Journal, 9(3), pp. 246-249. doi:10.1177/1066480701093002
Luquet, W., & Hannah, M.T. (1996). The efficacy of short-term Imago therapy: Preliminary findings. The Journal of Imago Relationship Therapy, 1 (1), 67-75.
Luquet, W., Hannah, M. & Mccormick, J., (1997). Compass as a Measure of the efficacy of couples therapy. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 25(1), pp. 76-90. doi:10.1080/01926189708251056
Martin, T. L., & Bielawski, D. M. (2011). What Is the African American’s Experience Following Imago Education? Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 51(2), pp. 216-228.
McMahon, M. (1999). Applying Stolorow's theory of intersubjectivity to Hendrix's imago techniques. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 69(2), pp. 309-334. doi:10.1080/00377319909517557
Muro, L., & Holliman, R. (2014). Relationship workshop with high-risk, hispanic couples.
North Carolina Perspectives 9, 51-62.
OH, JE; MINICHIELLO, V. Psychosocial Development in South Korean Couples and Its Effects on Marital Relationships. Journal of Family Psychotherapy. 24, 3, 228-245, July 2013. ISSN: 08975353.
Oh, J. (2010). Psychosocial Development in South Korean Couples and Its Effects on Marital Relationships. Journal of Human Understanding and Counseling. 31(1), 47 – 63.
Protinsky, H., & Flemke, K. (2003). Imago Dialogues: Treatment Enhancement with EMDR. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 14(2), pp. 31-45. doi:10.1300/J085v14n02_03
Robbins, C. A. (2005). ADHD couple and family relationships: Enhancing communication and understanding through Imago Relationship Therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(5), pp. 565-577. doi:10.1002/jclp.20120
Schmidt, C., Luquet, W. & Gehlert, N. (2015). Evaluating the impact of the Getting the Love You Want Couples workshop on relational satisfaction and communication patterns. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy.
The following articles were published in Iranian, Korean, and Turkish journals Abdolvand, N. (2015). Study Evaluate the effectiveness of communication imaging (IMA Gotrapy) Amount of marital commitment referred to the counseling in Isfahan Township (2013-2014). Gazi University Faculty of Education Journal, 4(3), 1-9.
Abdolvand, N, Sedrposhan, N, & Masoud Dayarian, M. (2015). Evaluate the effectiveness of communication image (IMA Gotrapy) on marriage, couples counseling center of Isfahan Township in 2013-2014. Journal of Scientific Research and Development 2 (1): 172-177.
Amini Khoeiy. N, Shafiabady, A, Delavar A, & Nuranipoor, R. (2014). Comparing the effectiveness of two approaches Life Skills training and Imago Therapy on improving young couples communication patterns. Journal of Science and Today’s World, 3(1), 13-14.
Arman S, Zahed Gh, Shakibaei F, Bina, M, Baghereian R, Roohafza H. The effect of couple’s diologue technique on marital conflicts and child behavior. Journal of Arak University of Medical Sciences 2008; 11(3): 9-19. Persian.
Etemadi, Ozra, Navabi-Nejad, Shokouh, Ahmadi, Ahmad, and Farzad, Valliollah. (2006). Investigate the effect of couple therapy by imago therapy on increasing marital intimacy referred to counseling centers in the city of Isfahan. News and Research Services, 19, pp. 22-9.
Etemadi,O;Navabinejad,Sh;Ahmadi,S.A;Farzad,V.(2006). The effect of couples therapy by method of Imago therapy in increasing marital intimacy referred to counseling center in the Isfahan city. News and Research Counseling, 5(19), pp. 9-22.
Golestaneh, S.M., Mohanaee, S, & Mahnaz. J. (2015). The effectiveness of couple’s therapy training on increasing of psychological capital of couples. International Journal of Psychology and Behavioral Research, 4(1), 66-72.
Jalili1, M. & Pasha, R. (2015). Considering the effect of Imago Therapy (relational-imagery) on loving styles of couples in Masjed Soleyman city. Gazi University
Faculty of Education Oh, J. (2005). Impact of childhood wounds on couple relationship. The Korean Journal of Counseling, 6(3) 1055-1070
Dissertations and Thesis Beeton, T. A. (2005). Dyadic adjustment and the use of imago skills by past participants of the "Getting the Love You Want" workshop for couples.
ProQuest Dissertations Publishing. Byun, B.K. ( 2010 ). A Phenomenological Study on the Change in Spouse Image and Perception of Childhood Wounds Through Imago Relationship Therapy.
Gerrand, M. (2010). Therapists’ Perceptions of Their Roles and Functions in Imago Relationship Therapy
Heller, B. C. (1999). An evaluation of Imago Relationship Therapy through its use in the Getting The Love You Want workshop: A quantitative/qualitative assessment. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Ditsky, M. G. (2008). Attachment and satisfaction in midlife marriages. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Kleven, D. R. (2013). Relationship alchemy: Marriage as a container for individuation. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Lee, O.K. ( ). The Phenomenological Study on Christian married women's Experience in the Imago Couple Relationship Therapy
Liberty, S. (2010). The dance with other: Couples therapy and the art of relationship. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Oh, J. (2012). The impact of Psychosocial Development and Attachment Styles on Subsequent Partner Selection and Marital Satisfaction in South Korea. University of New England School of Health.
Opperman, M. C. (2005). The creation and manifestation of reality through the re-enactment of subconscious conclusions and decisions. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Pitner, G. D. (1995). The effects of a couples' weekend workshop experience on marital satisfaction and relationship change. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Weigle, J. B. (2006). The effect of participating in an Imago therapy workshop on marital satisfaction. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Wise, J. M. (2015). Outer Marriage, Inner Marriage: The Necessity of the Other in the Discovery of Self. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.