Imago Relationship Therapy

It's been more than three decades since Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt--the best-selling authors of Getting the Love You Want and Keeping the Love You Find--created Imago Relationship Therapy. Their concept of the "conscious marriage" introduced a new paradigm for understanding the dynamics of couples. Since that time more than two thousand clinicians in twenty-eight countries have adopted and implemented this highly effective form of couples therapy.

This groundbreaking book offers an overview of the highly successful Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT) and the relationship of IRT with preceding schools of thought such as psychoanalytic theory, family systems theories, affect theory, and self-psychology. At the heart of IRT is a three-step process involving mirroring (reflecting) the partner's feelings, validating the partner's point of view, and expressing empathy toward the partner's feelings. Imago Relationship Therapy traces IRT's history and explosive growth and outlines the differences and similarities between Imago theory and other models of couples therapy. The book also presents some of the ideas of prominent Imago thinkers, such as the central role of connectivity and the problem of envy in committed relationships.

"A uniquely important book for the practitioner, which provides clinical wisdom and a rare look into the heart and soul of Imago Relationship Therapy."
--Pat Love, Ed.D., author, The Truth About Love

First Published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This comprehensive text is the first to offer a thorough overview of the current leading approaches to preventing couple distress and marital dissolution.

Preventive Approaches in Couples Therapy is the first thorough overview of the leading approaches to preventing marital distress and dissolution. Written for professionals, paraprofessionals, and lay people involved in the development and implementation of preventive programs, the editors have created a resource accessible to all those in the field of couples therapy. The volume serves as an important resource for programs that the therapist may already use and as an insightful introduction into new programs that can strengthen and invigorate these existing therapeutic approaches.

First published in 1998. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Contents:
Luquet, Hannah, Preface. Luquet, Introduction: The Relational Paradigm. Fein, Attachment Wounded Couples. Luquet, Chadwick, Exploratory Wounded Couples. Brainert, Identity Wounded Couples. Hannah, Competency Wounded Couples. Weiser, Thompson, Afro-American Couples. Bain, Hispanic Couples. Kollman, Gay and Lesbian Couples. Kleinberg, Zorn, Community Mirroring in Gay and Lesbian Couples. Vachon, HIV and Gay Couples. Ritz, HIV and Heterosexual Couples. Kelly, Luquet, Attention Deficit Disorder and Couples. Wood, Addictions, Couples and Recovery. Bernell, Sexuality and Couples. Eaker-Weil, Affairs and Couples. Bailey, Spirituality and Couples.

Building Intimate Relationships is an invaluable guide filled with practical tools, concepts, and exercises to help couples enhance intimacy and develop and maintain healthy, successful relationships. Based on the world-renowned PAIRS (Practical Application of Intimate Relationship Skills) program, this book is designed to educate mental health professionals about the program and its adaptations.

The PAIRS program goes beyond the usual conceptions of listening and problem solving, emphasizing emotional and physical connections. PAIRS acts as a kind of bridge between marriage education and couples therapy that is beneficial to couples in healthy relationships hoping to improve intimacy and to distressed couples trying to save their marriage.

In this book, the most experienced PAIRS leaders together with the creator of the program present the framework of PAIRS along with the proven exercises and techniques to enhance intimacy between couples. Chapters include discussions of intimacy, communication, conflict resolution, "emotional literacy", sensuality and sexuality, spirituality, and gender issues. An exciting and innovative approach to helping couples rekindle the sparks of love that brought them together in the first place, Building Intimate Relationships is an essential read for every couples therapy student and counselor.

Rita DeMaria, Phd, is Director of PAIRS Programs at Council for Relationships in Philadelphia. She has been a marriage and family therapist for over 25 years. Mo Therese Hannah, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Siena College, Loudonsville, NY, a practicing clinical psychologist, and an Advanced Clinician in Imago Therapy.

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