Imago is Latin for image, and Imago therapy is rooted in the idea that the images that people develop in early childhood play a significant role in the partners they choose and the relationships they create with them.

Imago therapy, also known as Imago Relationship Therapy (IRT), is a form of relationship therapy that aims to help partners listen deeply to each other’s concerns and needs, develop empathy and understanding, and heal from past experiences together.

Working from the premise that people repeat childhood experiences of love in their adult relationships, the idea is that Imago therapy can help with communication, increase positive feelings between partners, and improve intimacy.

The theory is that when partners have conflict, experiences in early childhood may sometimes be the cause. Our early family experiences are our schooling in interpersonal relationships. Unfortunately, in many families the significant caretakers haven’t had the good fortune themselves of having learned how to listen or to offer sincere undivided attention. So, when their partner acts in a way they see as distant or uncaring, it may elicit a strong emotional reaction.

In some cases, a person may not even be aware that these experiences still affect them. Imago therapy aims to make both parties aware of their and each other’s early childhood experiences and how they can relate to conflicts that they experience in their adult lives.

When neither person is aware of the cause or motivation behind the other’s actions, conflict can repeat itself. Imago therapy aims to help people overcome these issues by addressing issues from childhood and encouraging healing and growth within the relationship.