Background

IRT uses a method called the Imago Dialogue to help people communicate in an organized way. This method helps reduce strong emotional reactions, improves understanding between partners, and turns disagreements into chances to grow closer. It focuses on the relationship itself rather than blaming one person. Studies have found that IRT exercises help couples better understand each other's feelings and improve how they talk to each other.

History

IRT was created by Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt. The word "imago" comes from Latin and means "image." In this context, it refers to the "unconscious image of similar love," as stated by a therapist.

A 2017 study on the method's effectiveness found that couples who participated in IRT had higher marital satisfaction during treatment (and to a smaller degree later) but the improvements were not large enough to be considered meaningful in a medical sense.

Research published in 2025 in the Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy found that the workshops led to short-term improvements in relationship satisfaction and communication.