Relationship Education supports Imago Therapy
STOP PRESS: Imago to be prominent at Smart Marriages Conference 2009
Don't miss the exciting "Friday Night Live" session at Smart Marriages, where Harville and Helen will be presenting Imago Dialogue. They will be introduced by Dennis Stoica, who leads the California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC) - a leader in its field. Dennis is a huge supporter of Imago relationship education programs such as "Couplehood as a Spiritual Path".and “Couplehood: The Imago Path to Real Love,” a secular version that is currently being piloted by CHMC.
If you know anyone involved in Marriage Education in your region - invite them to come with you to this session. They will hear many others talk about just how important Imago programs are to the marriage education field. This could be a great way to support the growth of Imago in your State.
The session is P-8 on the Smart Marriages program, and will be on Friday July 11th, at 7.30pm. Contact www.smartmarriages.com for more details.
How is Imago rising to the forefront of the "Healthy Marriage" Coalitions?
For the last few years the US Government has been supporting the growth of community healthy marriage coalitions, to promote relationship education classes to their communities. Its a growing movement, and there is every chance that it will be continue to be supported by the Obama administration.
At the lead of the movement is the California Healthy Marriage Coalition. providing classes to over 10, 000 people a year. The best news - they love Imago!! So much so they are promoting"Couplehood as a Spiritual Path" program statewide. They will even help draw attention to these Imago programs at the upcoming Smart Marriages Conference this July.
There are supporting Imago programs because theyrecognize that couples have a great need for a process based in empathy like Imago Dialogue.
Based on this, we expect to see coalition leaders across the country become more interested in Imago, and programs such as the faith-based "Couplehood as a Spiritual Path", and the shorter secular programs currently available throughImago, such as "Imago Connects" and the premarital program "Start Right, Stay Connected" This a great time for you to get to know your local coalition and see how you can be involved.
How does Marriage Education support my therapy practice?
Marriage Education programs are usually offered at low-cost to large numbers of people, promoted by faith-based and community groups, who believe that stronger families lead to healthier children. Primarily they reach families that might never call you for therapy.
However, part of the goal of marriage education is to encourage families to seek out therapy if they are experiencing problems.Most relationship education providers are looking for links to good therapists, and especially where Imago programs are presented they will want to link people up to Imago Therapists.
What steps can I take?
- Make sure you are in contact with your local healthy-marriage coalition. Here is a link to where they are listed on the Smart Marriages website. They will probably have a directory of local therapists, and will enable you to advertise workshops and classes that you run on their site.
- Bring people from your local coalition along to hear Harville and Helen at the Friday Night Live presentation
- Look into presentingrelationship education classes in partnership with your localhealthy marriage coalition. Many of these classes are in faith-based organizations, so "Couplehood as a Spiritual "Path could be an ideal program for you tooffer.
What if I am in California - where so much is happening - How can I get involved?
California Healthy Marriage Coalition offers a clearinghouse of information for potential couples on their website, free of charge. They have invited all Imago therapists who are offering a Marriage Education program or Relationship Skills training in California to go onto their website and list any upcoming programs you may have that pertain to teaching couples and/or individuals relationship skills. This can include Couplehood as a Spiritual Path, Getting the Love You Want, or Imago Connects programs (as well as any other programs related to couples you may have.) To do this, please go to: www.CAMarriage.com and click on “Post Them in the Class Finder” under “Promote Classes” and follow the instructions.