Couples Counseling in Kansas City
The Latin word “imago”—meaning “image”—refers to the “unconscious image of familiar love.” What we find is that there is frequently a connection between frustrations in adult relationships and early childhood experiences. As an example, individuals frequently criticized as a child will likely be highly sensitive to their partner’s criticism. Childhood feelings of abandonment, suppression or neglect will often arise in a marriage or committed relationship. We are not shaming or blaming parents.
We are looking at the influences placed upon our child brain and exploring ways to heal the wounds we may be carrying that cause reactivity. The goal is to be more connected in a healthy and transparent manner.When such “core issues” repeatedly come up with a partner, they can overshadow all that is good in a relationship and leave one to wonder whether he or she has chosen the right mate.
Through Imago Relationship Therapy, couples can learn to understand each other’s feelings and “childhood wounds” more empathically, allowing them to heal themselves and their relationships so they can move toward a more “Conscious Relationship.”
Being aware of ourselves is the key; it changes everything.
When we understand that we have chosen our partners to heal certain painful experiences, and that the healing of those experiences is the key to the end of longing, we have taken the first step on the journey to real love.
Conflict is supposed to happen. Nature intended it: Everything in nature is in conflict. Conflict in humans is a sign that the psyche is trying to survive, to get its needs met and become whole. Conflict is inevitable. How we respond to the conflict is the key to managing the conflict and deepening our connection to our partner. Couples can learn to provide space for their partner while both partners experience safety and connection allowing the felt experience from the beginning phases of their relationship.
Meet Laurie Ward
Laurie is a Certified Imago therapist having completed the required years of training and completing the couple weekend workshop with her partner. She is passionate about helping partners learn more about themselves, improve communication effectiveness, and experience personal and lasting growth in self and relationship. Laurie has experienced the pain of divorce in early adulthood and subsequently over 3 decades of marriage.She has completed 2 levels of training in Gottman Sound Relationship House, as well. Basing her approach to couples counseling in Imago and supplementing with Gottman interventions has proven to be a powerful approach in helping couples heal and connect.