The (w)hole point institute, llc.

Personal and Professional Development

Imago Relationship Therapy

 

Alaya is a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist (IRT), offering Imago Relationship Therapy to couples around the country.  Above and beyond her two masters’ degrees, certification in the Imago model requires over 100+ hours of study and live supervision. This process was completed over 10 years ago, and since then Alaya has dedicated over half of her practice to enabling couples to move into conscious loving.

Harville Hendrix is the founder, creator, and originator of this model.  He and his wife, Helen, have spent over 25 years refining and developing this powerful and pragmatic relationship tool.  The premise of Imago Therapy is that relationships pass through stages just as the human body grows and matures.  For example, if one didn't know that children lose their teeth to allow space for mature teeth, we would be quite concerned and mis-interpret the significance of this growth process. So it is with relationships!

There are three basic stages in relationships: The Romantic Love Stage, The Power Struggle Stage, and The Conscious Loving Stage.  Most couples in trouble misunderstand the Power Struggle Stage as an indication that something is "wrong."  In fact, this stage is "normal" and must be negotiated in order to arrive at the mature stage of authenticity in a relationship.

Alaya's structure for Couples Work follows this general pattern:

· An initial consultation is scheduled in which the couple meet with Alaya for the first time and determine whether there is a "fit" between the couple, each individual, and Alaya.  This initial consultation is scheduled for a minimum of two hours to insure that everyone has a chance to speak and be heard.

· If both Alaya and the couple determine that the "fit" is a good one, then meetings continue
(2 hours / session) at a pace that allows for the couple to "practice at home" and to move at the pace that is comfortable to them.

Alaya's policy is that "The first hour session is free unless you continue, and then the first hour session is billed in full."  Alaya does not accept insurance; however, she is able to give you a statement with diagnostic codes for "couples therapy" for you to submit to your insurance for direct re-imbursement.  At the beginning of each session, payment for that session is required before beginning the 2-hour "healing time."  In the beginning of the appointment, the date for the next session is determined so that the couple knows the length of time prior to the subsequent meeting.