Washington D.C. Training Institute for Couples Therapy with IMAGO therapist Jette Simon

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.

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 includes:

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.

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.

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.).

300 hours of post graduate supervision (150 hours must be one-on-one supervision). Supervision means time spent with supervisor, not client hours.

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).

After a minimum of 6 months of consultation, you may submit a tape TO THE CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR which will be evaluated as the final stage in your Certification. In this tape we will be looking for the following:

Demonstrating good technical use of an Imago process. The process used should be either the Imago Dialogue or the BCR dialogue
Demonstrating proficiency in seamless flow, and portability of skills
Achieving outcomes during the session, including transforming negative energy to positive, deepening connection, and meeting the couple’s childhood needs.

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.

This track is designed for non clinicians or those not eligible to become Certified Imago Therapists® and for those who are not seeking certification. (i.e. spouse of a therapist, minister, attorney, teacher, physician etc.).

Admission Requirements: Participant must participate in a twenty hour Getting the Love You Want: Workshop for Couples led by a Certified Workshop Presenter. Those taking the Educational Track will not be certified at the end of the training. They will be auditing the course for educational purposes. They cannot use the terms Certified Imago Therapist® and cannot practice Imago Relationship Therapy.

*Thanks to The Institute for Imago Relationship Therapy for providing this material.