Imago Relationship Therapy

Imago Relationship Therapy was developed as a marriage therapy theory. The theory was developed from an eclectic combination of transactional analysis, Gestalt psychology, systemic theories, and cognitive therapy. This theory postulates that individuals are highly influenced by their childhood caregivers and ultimately select or become attracted to individuals who embody aspects of their childhood caregiver. This theory also infuses an array of practical interventions within the therapy.

Historical Context

Imago Relationship Therapy is the brainchild of Harville Hendrix, a clinical pastoral counselor, with a Ph.D. in psychology and theology. Hendrix gradually developed this theory through his own research and clinical experience with couples. Hendrix and his wife, Helen LaKelly Hunt, developed the Imago Model in the late 1970s and published a book a decade later, titled Getting ...

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