Foundations
Your entry point into Imago. Learn the core theory and the Imago Dialogue Process, then leave with practical tools you can begin using with couples.
- 2 days
- No commitment beyond Foundations
- Choose online or in person
Train as a Couples Therapist with Imago Relationship Therapy
A flexible, modular training pathway for counsellors and psychotherapists who want to work confidentally with couples.
- Start with 2 days with no further commitment
- Build up to 12 days for advanced clinical training
- Work towards becoming a certified Imago Relationship therapist
- Choose online or in-person at the Affinity Centre Cheadle
The training pathway
This is a stackable training route. You can begin with Foundations, continue into Clinical Skills, and then complete the post-training requirements for certification.
Clinical Skills
Ten further training days delivered in two five-day blocks, with deeper clinical application, more complexity, and live supervision of your work.
- 10 days total
- Booked as one commitment
- Stay with one cohort
Certification
After completing all 12 training days, certification is achieved through supervised practice and a video submission.
- Minimum 6 months' supervision
- 1 video submission
- Leads to Certified Imago Relationship Therapist status
Why this training stands out
Many couples trainings teach useful theory. This pathway is designed to help you repeatedly practise what to do in the room, so the work becomes more grounded and usable under pressure.
Practice-led learning
Each training day includes substantial skills practice with peers.
A complete modality
Imago is a developed therapeutic approach with its own theory, process, and international training structure.
Progressive skill-building
You begin with the fundamentals, then move into harder clinical situations and supervised application.
Online or in person
The training is offered in two formats with the same trainers and core content.
In-person training
Attend at the Affinity Centre in Cheadle, Cheshire.
Online training
Join live on Zoom from anywhere in the UK or beyond.
How format choice works
- For Foundations, choose whichever format suits you.
- For Clinical Skills, choose one cohort and stay with that group for all 10 days.
- Neither option is a recording or self-study course.
Your trainers
Ian Tomlinson
One of only two UK members of The Imago International Training Institute, and a UKCP-registered psychotherapist and couples therapist.
Joanna Groves
UKCP-registered psychotherapist, Certified Advanced Imago Relationship Therapist, and Provisional Teaching and Supervising Transactional Analyst (PTSTA-P).
For therapists in Transactional Analysis training, hours completed on this training can count towards CTA qualification.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about the pathway, formats, and certification.
What is Imago Relationship Therapy?
Imago Relationship Therapy is a structured therapeutic approach developed specifically for working with couples. Created by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt in 1980, it combines relational theory with a practical dialogue process that therapists can learn and apply directly in sessions. It is practised by thousands of therapists in nearly 50 countries.
Who is this training for?
It is designed for qualified or training counsellors and psychotherapists who want to specialise in couples work. You do not need prior couples experience to begin.
How does the modular pathway work?
You can start with the two-day Foundations course, then decide whether to continue into the ten-day Clinical Skills stage. After all 12 days, certification is completed through supervision and a video submission.
Do I have to commit to all 12 days at once?
No. You can begin with Foundations first. Clinical Skills is booked as one commitment, but that decision comes after the introductory stage.
Is the online version different from the in-person course?
The online version is live and interactive on Zoom. It is not a recording or self-study course, and it follows the same training pathway.
Can I mix online and in-person formats?
You can choose either format for Foundations. For Clinical Skills, you stay with one cohort for the full ten days.
How do I become certified?
Certification follows successful completion of all 12 training days, at least six months of supervision, and one video submission.
Can these hours count towards CTA training?
Yes. Because Joanna Groves holds PTSTA status, training hours can count towards CTA qualification.
Is the training inclusive?
The training is designed to welcome different identities, backgrounds, and learning needs, and intersectionality is embedded throughout the course content.
Start with Imago Foundations
Begin with the first two days, learn the core Imago process, and then decide whether to continue along the full pathway.
Book your place