Imago therapy

Imago Relationship Therapy is a form of therapy that focuses on relationship counseling.

Background

IRT emphasizes structured communication through the Imago Dialogue, designed to reduce reactivity, foster empathy, and transform conflict into opportunity for relational growth-focusing on "the space between" partners rather than diagnosing one partner. Empirical studies show that IRT exercises improve accurate empathy development and communication skills in couples.

History

IRT was developed by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt. The word imago is Latin for "image"; in this sense, it refers to the "unconscious image of similar love", according to one therapist.
A 2017 study of the method's effectiveness found that couples participating in IRT increased marital satisfaction during treatment but that the improvements were not clinically significant.
Research published in 2025 in the Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy found that the workshops yielded short-term improvements in relationship satisfaction and communication.