Toxic People and Relationships

In life, inevitably at some point, we are surrounded by people and situations that leave us with an uncomfortable feeling. The feeling may be hard to describe. It could be a nagging, gut feeling or it could involve anger, frustration, sadness and disappointment. Toxic situations and relationships can occur in romantic relationships, work environments and […]

READ ARTICLE

Training Days: You Can Be an Educator

The exciting idea that “Imago is for Everyone” becomes truer every day with the growth of the Imago Relationships International (IRI) Educator program. And, we were lucky enough to have the 4th-ever Imago-Certified Community Educator Training here in Takoma Park last November – Rebecca Sears and Shelly Webb co-taught the four day Training event to […]

READ ARTICLE

Most Like an Arch This Marriage

When I think of marriage or any committed relationship, I am reminded of John Ciardi’s beautiful poem, “Most Like an Arch This Marriage.” My husband and I love the poem so much that we read it aloud at our wedding. In verse, Ciardi likens marriage to an arch, a joining of “abeyances.” What is “strong […]

READ ARTICLE

Spotlight on Ginny Graham, MS

The counselors working at The Imago Center do not take their therapeutic knowledge for granted. From advanced trainings to personal study initiatives, they are always learning new ways to help their clients. Ginny Graham is no exception, and she says it’s the agency’s openness to learning that makes it a special place to work. “We […]

READ ARTICLE

Mental Illness or “Spiritual Emergency?”

Conflicts over the beliefs, practices, rituals and experiences related to a person’s religious or spiritual practices sometimes lead them into counseling or, at least, prove significant in treating the issues that brought them there. A survey of members of the American Psychological Association (APA) revealed that one in six of their patients have counseling issues […]

READ ARTICLE

Radical Hospitality: Relationship Tip of the Month

I recently heard a sermon about radical hospitality, the unexpected and unselfish care of another person. The pastor, Judith Fulp-Eickstaedt, asserted that such radical hospitality is the beginning of dramatic change, and she gave two examples. The first was Zacchaeus, a biblical figure who was not just a hated tax collector, but the chief tax […]

READ ARTICLE

It’s His Fault, It’s Her Fault. Who is Really to Blame in the Dating Game?

There is so much conflicting information out there when it comes to analyzing why it’s hard to find the right partner and why it’s hard to sustain the magic in a long term relationship/marriage. Who is to blame? Men? Women? Society? The media? Perhaps we are all just looking for easy answers when in reality, […]

READ ARTICLE

Reading Aloud to Each Other

If you were lucky, an adult in your life read aloud to you when you were young. Reading to a child is a wonderful way to stimulate his or her imagination, improve reading comprehension and verbal skills, and create a sense of safety and connection. One reason adults read to children before bedtime is to […]

READ ARTICLE

Loving With an Accent

I heard on the radio that research conducted at the University of Glasgow suggests that people process words spoken with their own accent more quickly and effortlessly than other accents. In the study, 20 Scots listened to recordings of nine female speakers (three American, three British, and three Scots) while their brain activity was measured […]

READ ARTICLE

Girl v. Boy: Parents Playing Favorites?

The latest “Murphy’s Love” column just came out this week and tackles the tricky topic of parents playing favorites across gender lines. With all of the concern about building up girls’ self-esteem, some parents can overcompensate. In this scenario, Dad seems to be working very hard to care for Daughter, but Son is expected to […]

READ ARTICLE