Getting
the Love You Want
for Couples
Getting
the Love You Want
for Gay & Lesbian Couples
Training Information:
Teleclasses for IRTs
Training Schedule
Basic Training in IRT
Single's Training
Advanced Supervision
Workshop Presenter Training
Singles' Workshop Presenter
Clinical Instructor Training
Other Advanced Training
The World
Trip
Hotel & Travel Information for Workshops & Training
Maya Kollman
209 Blackwell Road
Pennington, NJ 08534
(Princeton area)
Tel: 609 - 737 - 3023
Toll Free: 800-530-0282
FAX: 609 - 737-6906
Basic Clinical Training
in Imago Relationship Therapy
Click
here for Pre-Requisites and Requirements
Click here to download PDF file of information and application
Click here for complete Training Schedule
Imago
Relationship Therapy, a model of therapy developed by Harville
Hendrix, Ph.D., founder of the Institute for Imago Relationship
Therapy, recognizes that the inherent nature of human beings
is what Jung described as a "push towards wholeness".
That wholeness contains Maslow's qualities of a self actualized
person: spontaneity and creativity, acceptance of self and others,
an ability to tolerate and even welcome uncertainty in life,
a need to have both solitude and deep intense relationships,
a sense of humor, caring and compassion for others, inner direction,
and an open and fresh attitude toward life.
Throughout our development as human beings, that wholeness is fragmented through experiences in relationship with our caretakers and results in a significant impact on the choice of a marriage or relationship partner and the dynamics of all our relationships in adulthood. The ultimate goal of the work that couples do in Imago Relationship Therapy is to assist each other in repairing the wounded or injured aspects of that original state, and to reclaim the whole self that can more passionately and vibrantly express itself in life and in relationship.
Description of Clinical Sessions
The clinical training program offers psychotherapists the opportunity to learn the theory, techniques, and application of Imago Relationship Therapy in order to work more effectively with couples in their practice.
The clinical training program leading to certification in Imago Relationship Therapy consists of 96 hours of training. The hours are usually divided into three weeks of 32 hours each.
The primary focus of Session I is to give participants the meta-theoretical framework and essence of Imago Relationship Therapy. Assumptions serving as the foundation of the theory and the resulting paradigm shift in understanding and working with couples are presented. The assumptions are further developed in exploring the evolutionary journey of the self and how that impacts on relationships. The focus moves to the developmental journey of the individual self from a relational paradigm. The various ways individuals are wounded throughout the developmental process through parenting styles and socialization are discussed. The concept of the formation of the imago and the role it plays in partner selection and subsequent interaction is explained. An overview of the major therapeutic processes is given.
Explanation, clinical demonstrations,
and practice by participants of therapeutic techniques and processes
form a significant portion of the first four days.
Session I includes:
the
specific structure of the couple's dialogue to create not only
clear communication, but also cognitive and affective empathy
and a safe "holding" environment.
the
parent-child dialogue to access the childhood wound(s).
the
partner holding process which allows safe regression to the childhood
experience and re-imaging by the partner.
the
initial interview with the couple to establish safety as the
primary therapeutic issue and to clarify the issues from within
the primary process skill.
Practice of the techniques by training participants is done in
small group format with real material from each participant's
personal experience. Participants experience each process as
therapist, as client, and as observer. The clinical instructor
provides supervision within the small groups.
Participants are required to begin using the processes learned with clients from their practice and to record some sessions for supervision in Session II.
Session II continues theoretical explanation, clinical demonstrations and practice, and adds small group supervision of recorded client sessions from within the framework of Imago Relationship Therapy.
Theoretical material consists primarily of the process and purpose of initial partner attraction and selection and how that forms the basis of the power struggle as a natural stage in the relationship. Symbiotic beliefs and other factors contributing to the power struggle are discussed. Character adaptation to the developmental wounding and socialization wounding are explained, as well as how the partner we chose is in a unique position to contribute to the healing of that wounding.
Reactivity, loss of empathy, and the origins of self hatred, projection, and prejudice are placed within this framework. Discussion of the maximizer-minimizer polarity and how that affects the relationship is presented. Explanation of the theory also includes discussion of the denied self, lost self, hidden self, disowned self and presentational self. Discovering and working with the core of resistance and the couple's core scene is explained.
Explanation, clinical demonstrations and practice by participants of therapeutic techniques and processes included are:
the
exploration and commitment to close exits in the relationship.
the
behavior change request which leads to the restructuring of frustrations
in the relationship through identifying the underlying wound
and create positive, specific, and measurable requests of the
partner that are designed for success.
Supervision of participants' work with clients between Session I and Session II, and work within small groups is included.
Participants are expected to record sessions with their own clients using processes learned in this session for supervision in Session III.
The theoretical portion of this last session includes the concepts of containment within the relationship. Containment is further developed to include a framework and safe structure for intense anger or rage. Concepts regarding the re-visioning and re-romanticizing the relationship are presented. The overall structure and progression of therapy using this approach is presented, including the format and duration of sessions with couples, commitments on the part of the couples and therapist, the focus, structure, and process of a session, and the use of assignments and guided imagery.
The primary focus of Session III is on clinical practice and supervision of client sessions.
Processes demonstrated and practiced in Session III include:
the
containment processes and the specific process for resolving
rage.
the
process of full positive containment.
the
positive flooding.
other
processes to re-romanticize.
re-visioning
the relationship.
Learining Objectives of the Clinical Training Program
Participants will obtain knowledge and understanding of relational development and arrest, as well as resulting characterological adaptations in primary relationships.
Participants will obtain understanding of the concept of the imago and the role it plays in partner selection and subsequent stages of the relationship.
Participants will learn to identify and work with the couple's core resistance within the context of a core scene.
Participants will understand the role of reactivity and the effect it has on the relationship and each partner, and will learn methods to move the couples from reactivity to intentionality in their relationship.
Participants will learn ways to reframe couple's resistance and assist them in creating a climate of safety and fulfillment for both individuals in the relationship.
Participants will learn and demonstrate skills in specific techniques to assist couples in restructuring conflict and frustration, resolving adult and childhood rage, accessing the childhood wound and using the information gained for healing the relationship.
Participants will learn and demonstrate skills to assist couples in increasing validation and empathy, and achieving a deeper level of commitment and intimacy.
Participants will learn specific ways to empower couples to continue the work of healing after therapy is terminated.
Participants will actively participate in small groups to learn skills and will use theory and skills learned in this training with their own clients between training sessions. Audio or video tapes will be brought back for group supervision.
This program is designed for experienced therapists with a current practice which includes work with couples. The focus is on Imago Relationship Therapy clinical theory, clinical procedures and therapeutic processes, clinical demonstrations, and supervision of participants' cases using this model.
Participation
in a Getting the Love You Want: Workshop for Couples led by a
certified workshop presenter prior to admission into training.
(Note: Participation should be with spouse, if married. Single
therapists may attend with intimate partner, close friend, relative,
or colleague).
Possession
of an advanced degree in the mental health field and membership
in a recognized professional association (i.e. NASW, AAMFT, APA,
AAPC, etc.).
Current
clinical practice with couples.
License
to practice psychotherapy if required by state.
300
hours of post graduate supervision (150 hours must be one-on-one
supervision). Supervision means time spent with supervisor, not
client hours.
Proof
of malpractice insurance.
Each applicant will be considered on their own merits. If you do not have all of the above credentials, please attach a cover letter to your application which addresses the exception.
Within twelve months of the completion of the formal course, the participant must serve as a support therapist in a twenty hour Getting the Love You Want Workshop for Couples conducted by a Certified Workshop Presenter. Trainee must receive a positive evaluation from the Presenter which must then be submitted directly to the Institute and the Course Instructor(s).
Post Course Requirements
At three months and again at six months after completion of the formal course, the participant must write a one page report of their learnings and submit it to their Clinical Instructor. Having completed all these requirements, the trainee may apply to the Institute for Clinical Membership. Upon acceptance as a Clinical Member of the Institute, one may represent him/herself as a Certified Imago Therapist¨.
To maintain certification, a Certified Imago Therapist¨ must be a Clinical Member in good standing with IIRT, current with annual membership dues and current with continuing educational requirements.
Benefits of membership:
Listing
in the Resource Directory for referrals by the Institute
Receiving
the Journal for Imago Relationship Therapy
Use
of registered trademark "Certified Imago Therapist"
Discount
on conferences and advanced training
Admission to any program does not guarantee certification.
Certification makes a graduate of any program eligible for referrals from The Institute for Imago Relationship Therapy. Therefore, the review process of audio/video tapes is supervisory and evaluative.
CE Credits: 96
Approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) for
continuing education credit through the Institute for Imago Relationship
Therapy.
Tuition: $2,500