Imago Clinical Therapist Online Training

Super excited to offer counselors, social workers, family educators, psychologists, and other therapists AIRTA IMago Australia’s online training. Register now :))

Imago Clinical Training – Starting April 2022

AIRTA has organised for International Imago presenters to deliver the Imago Clinical training. For health professionals who would like to become certified as Imago Therapists or those interested in learning the skills. The training is delivered online.  Each module consists of 32 hours and this translates to 32 CPD hours. 100% attendance is required but exceptional circumstances will be considered if a session cannot be attended.  Previously Imago Therapists can attend the lecture one hour component for free.

Photo by dusan jovic on Unsplash
ModuleDescription
Module 1This is a prerequisite for Modules 2 & 3. It is an introduction to Imago theory.  16 hour are spent on lectures whilst the remaining 16 hours consist of homework, videos, etc.
Module 2This consists of hands on practice and less theory.  The different dialogues, such as, Parent Child Dialogue.  It is a feedback model and focuses on the phenomenology beneath feelings.
Module 3This is like a learning lab. Videos of the students work are studied, there is feedback and coaching, specialist areas are explored, such as reactive couples, addictions, affairs, multicultural couples, sex (this is touched on) and more.
6 months self study periodOn going supervision group for 3 – 4 hours once a month.  A final video is then submitted and once approved, the student will be certified as an Imago Therapist.

Presenters

The presenters are Gene Shelley, Nedra Fetterman and Kobus van der Merwe.

Gene Shelley Clinical Instructor and Workshop Presenter

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Description automatically generated with medium confidenceGene is a pastoral psychotherapist and a fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, an International Association of theologically and clinically trained therapists. He is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor. He also is an affiliate member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He was a former member of the teaching and supervising faculty of the Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute, a psychoanalytically oriented residency training program. (Imago Therapy Gene Shelly, M. Div.)

Gene is also a Imago Clinician, Clinical Instructor and Workshop presenter. He runs the Getting you Love Workshop and the Imago Clinical Training for therapists.  In addition, he runs individual and group consultations to support Imago therapists.

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Description automatically generatedDr Nedra Fetterman Clinical Instructor and Workshop Presenter

 Nedra is a licensed psychologist and Director of the Relationship Center in Ardmore, PA. She brings over 16 years of experience in working with couples, families and organizations and is a senior therapist at The Center for Psychological Services and a clinical consultant to Corporate Initiatives. While she is known for her gentle, healing touch, she is a powerful presence in her workshops and her trainings. As a coach and mentor, she is committed to producing results which often means assisting clients transcends their self-imposed limitations and to get on with the adventrure of their lives. Nedra is passionate about rekindling her client’s aliveness and increasing their sense of wonder and possibility.

Nedra is a unique member of this training team and her work inspires transformational work in others. In both her workshops and trainngs, participants speak openly about the vulnerabilities and strengths that took them from a place of distance and injury to a place of connection and healing. She lives the dialogical processes that are at the heart and soul of vibrant relationships. (Imago Therapy Nedra Fetterman, Ph.D. (geneshelly.com)

Kobus van der Merwe Clinical Instructor and Workshop Presenter

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Description automatically generated with low confidenceKobus van der Merwe is a faculty member of Imago International Training Institute and has been training clinicians in Imago Relationship Therapy (Clinical Training) and other professionals in the Imago Relationship Theory (Imago Professional Facilitator Training) since 1998.

He was a winner of the Harville Hendrix Award for Clinical Excellence in 2016 and is currently a Professor of Imago Studies at Daybreak University, California USA.

Kobus is a remarkable teacher and couples’ therapist who seamlessly weaves theory and Imago relationship constructs into his practice and supervision with students.

He has made a significant contribution to the development of Imago globally and particularly in South Africa. He is a second-generation Imago practitioner as both his parent’s practice Imago. He has been married to Anita for 30 years and together they have nurtured a family of third-generation Imago practitioners. (Kobus – Imago Africa).

Dates of the training

Module 1 (Duration 2 Hrs)Module 2 (Duration 4 Hrs)Module 3 (Duration 4 Hrs)
Tues 26 April 20228:00 amTues 19 July 20228:00 amTues 11 Oct 20228:00 am
Mon 2 May 20227:00 pmTues 26 July 20228:00 amTues 18 Oct 20228:00 am
Tues 10 May 20228:00 amTues 2 Aug 20228:00 amTues 25 Oct 20228:00 am
Tues 17 May 20228:00 amTues 9 Aug 20228:00 amTues 1 Nov 20228:00 am
Tues 24 May 20228:00 amTues 16 Aug 20228:00 amTues 8 Nov 20228:00 am
Tues 7 June 20228:00 amTues 23 Aug 20228:00 amTues 15 Nov 20228:00 am
Tues 14 June 20228:00 amTues 30 Aug 20228:00 amTues 22 Nov 20228:00 am
Mon 17 June 20227:00 pmTues 13 Sept 20228:00 amTues 30 Nov 20228:00 am

Costs of the Training $1400 Early bird Prior April $1500 Standard fee

Register with PHilipathornton@gmail.com or call me 0434559011

Imago Couples Therapy Training Online April

Super excited fellow therapists, counselors and psychologists wanting to train in Harville Hendrix and Helen Lakelly-Hunt amazing therapy model Imago. Truly a blessing to be coaching clients to healing conversations for connections and healing.

We have Nedra Fetterman, Gene Shelly, Herb Tannebaum of the US, and Kobus Van der Merwe of the Imago Faculty. The Module 1 training will be two hours weekly online with a lecture then small group practice on April 26th, 10 am-12 pm Sydney local time.

Love to have you join us. Please drop me a comment if interested in learning more about this exciting new opportunity.

Getting the Couples Coaching You Want for Therapy Photo by Chermiti Mohamed on Unsplash

Getting the Love You Want Live in Sydney!

Super excited to share the amazing weekend couples intensive Getting the Love You Want Workshop is on and in person.

In lovely Crows Nest, there’s lots of great accommodation and mouth-watering restaurants if you want to make it an escape from the daily grind putting your relationship first.

Coming Soon April 2,3. Hurry to reserve your spot.

Full details here Getting the Love Workshop Sydney in person.

RIP Brenda Rawlinson Imago Therapy Australia and New Zealand legend

With a sense of sadness on this Valentine’s day, I wish to honor Brenda Rawlinson and her husband Peter Macmillan. Both dedicated advanced Imago couples therapists in their own right.

Chris and I first met Brenda and Peter at the Getting the Love You Want workshop in Lane Cove Sydney. This weekend’s couples workshops opened our eyes to what this relational therapy offers both personally and professionally. Peter and Brenda as husband and wife team lived this model of safe conversation, heartful joy, and growth toward deep connection. Their passion inspired us to complete the Clinical training they offered.

Brenda passed peacefully on Friday surrounded by love after a couple of years of dealing with a brain tumour and subsequent complications.

She will be mourned by many. Her legacy of love continues.

In an email, Peter shared their wedding vows and I respectfully share them here as a testament to their living them.

Brenda/Peter

I vow to love and cherish you always, to stand by you and support you, whatever life may bring.

I vow to respect you, to honour our differences, and to meet you with truth and passion.

I vow to recognize and support your soul’s journey in this life and to honour our relationship as a vehicle for healing and growth.

I vow to share with you the joy of our children, to be strong and loving with you in our parenting and to make our home a place of safety, nourishment, beauty and humour.

I vow to protect and grow our love in this sacred vessel our marriage.

Brenda/Peter, I love you and willingly embrace you as my wife/husband.

They truly say it all.

Loving and healing to all she touched, as Brenda’s light still shines bright.

Vale Brenda Rawlinson.

One of Brenda’s songs and a favorite of mine :

Dance Me to the End of Love, Leonard Cohen, Imperfect Offering  

Happy Valentines Everyone!

It’s nice to have a special day dedicated to love. Not that you have to be in a relationship. In Chile, I believe this is actually a friendship day celebrating our pals.

Surprisingly I get a lot of people asking if I see individuals. Yes, I do! We use EMDR, Resource Therapy, and Imago processes for accelerated results. Whether your mate won’t come. Or you want to clear the path forward for yourself. Totally love coaching both men and women toward their dream version of themselves and ideal relationships. Inside and out. We deal with the past so our future is healed. Allowing us to stop painful patterns and start exciting new adventures.

Chris and I are off to a nice lunch by the seaside, we just love a beautiful Sydney view. What will you do either for you if you choose or your sweetheart?

Of course, there are always flowers – red roses and a card for the traditional. Perhaps you go skydiving together for an adrenalin rush. Maybe a surprise picnic at the office. In Sydney, it’s a Monday. Please drop a comment below how you plan to spend it, love to hear from you!

All we need is love and connection
We love, who we love xox

Love in the Real World

Hey there I have just finished another episode of the Resourceful Therapist which relates to couples. You will meet Julie and Will, advanced Imago Couples Therapists. Plus they are running their next Getting the Love You Want Workshop online Sept 24 Just click the link for details.

How a Couples Retreat Can Save Your Relationship

We are very lucky to have the next “Getting the Love You Want Workshop” Online.

This workshop is at the heart of Imago Therapy where connection and communication are key. Learn safe ways to heal and hear.

Our beautiful therapists bringing you this program are Will and Julie. Imago Therapists practice what we preach, it’s personal as well as professional.

Workshop presenter Will shares :

We all want to be connected and happy, and most of us are doing the best we can with what we know.

However, it seems we lack the map, the knowledge, and the skills to navigate the trickier waters of partnership. 

We struggle with fear, with defensive strategies that have kept us ‘safe’ (better to be safe than sorry).

There’s a cost to this safety – we lose ourselves and our intimate partnership.

With better ways to love fully, we are no longer doomed to recreate the same hurtful patterns, and can end the suffering.

You will remember the GTLYW retreat as one of the best weekends you have ever had together and time well spent.

You will take away great skills, a new way of loving, and a whole new positive perspective on your relationship.

It is good to know we are not alone in this challenging endeavor called love.

So grab this opportunity now August 13th Start Getting the Love YOU Want!

NOW ONLINE

Couples Retreat with Julie Ayres-Cutler and William Vorobioff

Fri evening 13 August: 7-9pm All Online in the comfort of your home.

Sat  14 August: 9am- 5pm with breaks in between, for lunch and refreshments

Sun 15 August: 9am- 5pm with breaks in between, for lunch and refreshments

Hurry now to register please click here or call Julie on 0422 955 414.

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

The Love You Want…

Hello from Sydney lockdown, beautiful people!

Some good has come as we adhere to the necessary restrictions. However, this can cause pressure in our partnerships. Tensions flare, arguments escalate.

I don’t know about you, but it can take me a while to address things in my relationship, often complaining and then taking action.

One of the key skills we use is the Imago Dialogue. Easily learnt, it offers you and your mate a deeper connection in emotional safety.

It’s in the doing that counts.

Here’s something you can do for your relationship today – The Getting the Love you Want workshop is now online August 13-15.

A weekend of healing from the comfort of your own home.

So don’t miss out on this lockdown opportunity!

2021 (NOW ONLINE) Couples Workshop with Julie Ayres-Cutler and William Vorobioff

Fri evening 13 August: 7-9pm

Sat  14 August: 9am- 5pm

Sun 15 August: 9am- 5pm

Please note: This workshop will now proceed online.

To register or for more information please call Julie on 0422 955 414.

2021 Weekend Couple Workshop Online

Photo by Jennifer Marquez on Unsplash

Yours in gratitude and service,

Philipa

3 Minutes a Day to Improve Your Mental Health and Relationship

I have a quick video for you where I share one of our take-home tasks in couples therapy. It’s 3 minutes of positivity directed toward your partner.

This is so important, as we need to build up the emotional good will. Most of us focus on the problems. Which seems like the best thing to do and there definitely is a time and place for that.

Most of us need to regroup and remember the good things. Especially in this Covid world. Gratitude and acknowledgement supports our immune system. Plus it feels better ! So here is a quick guide to the three key skills of Imago – Mirroring, Validation and Empathising. With the daily positivity practice of three minutes a day and sharing that. Love to know how you go, please drop me note below.

Reminder on the Last Resort Technique

My amazing friend and brilliant therapist Michele Weiner-Davis ( Yes a bit of hero worship here!) has brought us the Last Resort Technique (LRT). This is when your spouse says the dreaded “D” word, divorce.

Please visit the full article here. With over a thousand comment’s you get a lot of help and support. You are not alone. I always respond personally.

I see some common misapprehensions on the LRT. So I will put up a wee refresher here.

The three steps are

  1. Stop Chasing.
  2. Get a Life.
  3. Wait.

And once you are working this then, how you might respond :

  • Be loving in return, but not overly excited or enthusiastic.
  • Accept some invitations to spend time together, but not all.
  • Accept all Family time invites. Your spouse seeing you having fun with your kids together reminds them of the value of family. You are a parent forever.
  • Do not ask any questions about your future together.
  • Be vague when asked questions about the changes in you. Say that you are just thinking things through. Live the shift.
  • Continue to be upbeat.
  • Do not say, “I love you.”
  • Resist getting in the conversation about your relationship.
  • Get a head start and beat your spouse to the punch when it comes time to leave or separate from each other at the end of an activity. You set the tone for going your separate ways.
  • As a rule of thumb, be responsive to your partner’s interest but not too responsive. Going overboard will lead your partner to get cold feet. Be warned.

So, stay interested, but cool in a self-possessed manner, (not icy though, as that will send mixed messages) until you are absolutely convinced that your partner’s renewed interest in saving your marriage has taken hold.

Good luck, dear hearts.

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

Know I am thinking of you all and wishing you well.

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0434 559 011
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