Harville Hendrix and Imago Relationship Therapy

Perhaps best known to the general community for his appearances on Oprah, Harville Hendrix is a notable and respected member of the therapeutic community. The good doctor has given his career’s work to studying marriage and relationships, striving to learn what aspects of relationship therapy can be improved upon to set up couples to succeed long term. His experience in both the field of relationships and the field of psychology is vast, having spent over 35 years in various roles, including counselor, educator, and lecturer.

Harville Hendrix received his education from Mercer University and he has a degree in theology and degrees in both religion and psychology from the University of Chicago Divinity School. Much of his popular fame came when he published bestselling books on the subject of relationships and marriage. These books, including Getting the Love you Want and Keeping the Love You Find, have helped millions of people move beyond traditional methods of working through problem relationships.

They say behind any successful man stands a successful woman, and the story of Harville Hendrix is no exception to that rule. With his wife, Helen LaKelly Hunt, he has created what may be his primary contribution to the science of marriage and relationship counseling. Known as Imago Relationship Therapy, the program explores the concepts of conscious marriage and parenting. Since its inception, the program has been embraced by thousands of therapists around the world.

Hendrix believes that much of what drives the problems in relationships (as well as initial chemistry and attraction in the first place) is a hunger in people to find what they lacked in their upbringing. Few people had the luck to grow up in a perfect household. Everyone has some issues with their original caretakers, even if they don’t know it at the conscious level. Many times, individuals seek out potential partners who can give them what their parents failed to. Whether that be support, love, affection, or what have you, it becomes incumbent on the other party to fill that void. Many times, when a relationship fails, it is because one partner is trying to work out their baggage with their husband or wife, who is completely unaware that this dynamic is taking place.

Through his books, seminars, and appearances on television, Harville Hendrix has managed to share his relationship strategies with millions of couples and therapists around the world. His contributions to the science are to be honored and appreciated and there can be no doubt that anyone can learn from his techniques.