What a wonderful long weekend in New Zealand with Peter McMillan. Myself and the beautiful Imago Therapists attending the workshop the Art of Supervision, had an inspiring and heartfelt weekend. Brenda Rawlings’s photo and a vase of roses meant we felt her presence. Thanks to Imago Institute for Relationships New Zealand.
Dear Relationship workers,
Fun is at the heart of freedom, joy, and aliveness in partnerships. One of the activities Chris and I partake in is the traditional Argentine Tango dance.
A beautiful rhapsody for the soul. Tango is about our connection to the music, our partner, and ourselves in this shared union of the dance.
We truly recommend couples and singles too (it’s a great way to meet new friends) find a passion/s to pursue. Tango and any dance -salsa, ballroom allow us to be in the moment, sharing physically and respectfully with joy. It’s not about perfection, it’s the practice.
Believe me, there are times when we struggle, there’s tension but with partnered dance, there has to be cooperation. Where we work as a team inviting the best in each other. Feels wonderful.
Love to know your hobbies, sports, or activities which bring your energy back to your partnership. Please drop a comment below.
Please watch our amazing dance teachers from Tango Spirit Jacqueline and Anthony. Enjoy their close embrace, shared connection, and Pugliese Tango Orchestra. Filmed in City Tatt’s historical dance room. Philipa.
Dear Relationship workers, Chris and I hope this finds you well. We are in a wet patch here in Sydney. Just met with the plumber for drainage help.
Gloriously we returned to Bali, a place where we reset our relationship. We fell in love with this wonderful island a few years back. For us, it has the flavor of a honeymoon all over again. Positive vibes that warm our hearts and keep our partnership healthy and strong.
Wanting to share the love and healing of magical Indonesia we are thinking of offering a couples retreat in Bali winter of 2023.
The program would be a long weekend with a mix of workshops and activities. For fun, frolic, and reinvigoration with real-world communication skills and exercises immersed in a tropical paradise.
My suggestion is that your relationship is in a stable place and you are wanting to increase your heartfelt connection.
It’s not “Survivor for Relationships” if you get my drift.
We will keep the group small. You will only ever work with your partner, so rest assured.
Naturally, we will all benefit from being together, sharing wisdom and all that brings.
Registrations of Interest are now open. Applications are open from all areas of the world. Please join us.
So drop me a line or add a comment below. Please sign up for the newsletter to keep in the loop.
With love and Light Philipa and Chris
Hey wonderful relationship workers, hope all is ok as we move out more in the world. Big Yay there.
Of course, that can also bring up stress in our partnerships. Perhaps we tap into insecurity as our mate goes back to work. Or may the opposite they won’t leave the house and you feel smothered.
This is related to our Attachment styles. The way our first caregivers and ourselves interacted shapes these. There are four but the main ones are Secure, Anxious, and Avoidant style. You can possibly guess what the two styles of behaviour point to in the above paragraph. Yes anxious and avoidant.
I digress. You will learn more about these styles and your couple’s dance at the Getting the Love You Want workshop. Luckily it is online next weekend with my colleague Ranka Joyce. You will be in expert hands.
I know when Chris and I did this workshop it was a game-changer for the better.
Full details are on the AIRTA website here – Getting the Love You Want click.
Welcome Relationship repairers, healers, and those on the journey of reconnection.
Being a certified Imago Couples Therapist I’ve had the benefit of intensive training. My passion has led me to join the Australian Committee –
Excitingly part of my role is to support others in learning this powerful model of relationship repair and reconnection. Wonderfully excited to offer you the Imago Clinical training online.
Want to know more ? Please join us on April 18th at 8 pm online ( free meet and greet prior to the training) with our international presenters – Nedra Fetterman, Gene Shelly and Kobus van Der Merwe. Please register your interest in the comments section below.
Here’s a wonderful Imago explainer from Nedra. Over the Rainbow_ A Journey to Wholeness …
Super excited to offer counselors, social workers, family educators, psychologists, and other therapists AIRTA IMago Australia’s online training. Register now :))
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.
| Module | Description |
| Module 1 | This 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 2 | This 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 3 | This 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 period | On 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
Gene 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.
Dr 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
Kobus 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 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 19 July 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 11 Oct 2022 | 8:00 am |
| Mon 2 May 2022 | 7:00 pm | Tues 26 July 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 18 Oct 2022 | 8:00 am |
| Tues 10 May 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 2 Aug 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 25 Oct 2022 | 8:00 am |
| Tues 17 May 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 9 Aug 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 1 Nov 2022 | 8:00 am |
| Tues 24 May 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 16 Aug 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 8 Nov 2022 | 8:00 am |
| Tues 7 June 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 23 Aug 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 15 Nov 2022 | 8:00 am |
| Tues 14 June 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 30 Aug 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 22 Nov 2022 | 8:00 am |
| Mon 17 June 2022 | 7:00 pm | Tues 13 Sept 2022 | 8:00 am | Tues 30 Nov 2022 | 8:00 am |
Costs of the Training $1400 Early bird Prior April $1500 Standard fee
Register with PHilipathornton@gmail.com or call me 0434559011
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.
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.
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
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!
Book an appointment
0434 559 011
Weekdays 9am - 5pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC +10)
