Imago Relationship Therapy: How To Help Couples Move From Conflict To Connection

Description

Both new and experienced therapists often struggle to work successfully with couples. Managing two people who might be highly stressed and reactive to one another can be challenging. Using a relational approach, Imago Relationship Therapy, this program will provide theory and tools for holding people in a structured dialogue and thereby create a more conscious and non-reactive safe connection. This workshop will introduce participants to Imago Relationship Therapy, which provides a theoretical, experiential and practical way for dealing with this dynamic.

Learning Objectives

• Utilize the Imago Dialogue in their practice with couples.

• Define a non-reactive way to communicate in couples therapy.

• Explain how to facilitate safe connections between high conflict couples while in treatment.

• Identify and name two specific characteristics of the clinician’s own Imago.

• Describe the client’s wounds and character adaptations while in their care.

Activity Schedule

9:30 – 9:45 Welcome and Introduction

9:45 – 10:00 Foundational Exploration of Imago Some Goals of this workshop Core Idea Core Skill Core Decision

10:00 – 10:15 Why do Couples Fight?

10:15 – 11:00 Stages of a Relationship The Human Journey Two types of character adaptations

11:00 – 11:25 The Evolutionary Journey Core Idea 1

11:25 – 11:35 What do Couples Want? Core Decision Zero Negativity The Conscious Journey The Core Skill

11:35 – 12:00 The Core Skill – Imago Dialogue Explanation – Step 1 “Mirroring” Demonstration Practice ( 5 minutes each = 10 minutes) (Break-out rooms) Process

12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH – Do Imago Workup (hand-out)

1:00 – 1:15 COMMENTS/QUESTIONS

1:15 – 1:30 Imago Dialogue (cont’d) Explanation – Step 2 – Validation Explanation – Step 3 – Empathy

1:30 – 2:15 DEMO FULL IMAGO DIALOGUE Practice (Break-out rooms)

Process 2:15 – 2:45

2:45 – 3:00 ROLE of An Imago Therapist

3:00 – 3:30 COMMENTS/QUESTIONS Information

Carol J. Kramer, LCSW, is a certified Imago Relationship Therapist, Faculty Trainer, and Workshop Presenter. Carol brings enthusiasm, expertise, warmth and clarity to the learning process. She is able to break down how to utilize the theory and she makes the process of learning engaging, safe, fun and productive. Among the places Carol has presented are Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service; NASW; Esalen; EAPA -NYC; Omega Institute; Kripalu Institute and the Cape Cod Institute. Carol is based in NYC. www.safeconnections.com