ABOUT ME
I grew up in England and lived in France for a year before emigrating
to Canada. In my late 20s I entered university to study psychology.
After
going through a divorce my interest focused increasingly around couple
relationships and what makes them work. My doctoral dissertation, which
I completed at Concordia University in 1992, was on relationship satisfaction
and the personality fit between partners in adult love relationships.
When I discovered the work of Harville Hendrix it made so much sense
to me I immediately knew I wanted to train with him and started this
process
in 1991 - a pivotal moment which changed my life both personally and
professionally. I certified as an Imago Relationship Therapist in 1992
and have subsequently
continued my training to become an Advanced Clinician and a certified
workshop presenter for both the "Getting the Love You Want"
workshop for couples and the "Keeping the Love You Find" workshop
for individuals. I now present the workshops internationally in both
French and English. I completed my training as a clinical instructor
to train new Imago Relationship Therapists in 2005 and offer trainings
in French and English in Montreal, London and Dublin.
I am constantly exploring new formats to help people integrate the
Imago approach. These have included:
• Five days in Switzerland combining the couples’s workshop
with theatre and body movement.
• Annual week-long ‘Getting the Love You Want’ workshop
on the Greek island of Skyros.
• Visiting couples in their own homes for intensives, lasting
from three hours to three days.
• On going groups for couples and singles to deepen and integrate
the new learning and skills.
As an active member of the Imago board and faculty, I contribute to
the ongoing development of Imago theory and practice. I am currently
chair of the Programs Committee which has the exciting responsibility
of developing new programs such as The Imago Connects series, a Pre-marital
workshop and a Parenting workshop.. Since 1999 I have been working with
a group of Imago therapists (The Keepers) to expand the work for Singles
and compile "Deepening the Conscious
Self: An Advanced Toolbox for Working with Individuals, Couples and
Groups" (available on CD). Based on the "Keeping the Love
You Find" material, it provides Imago therapists with a comprehensive
selection of theory handouts and practical tools to enhance their work.
My poetry
and theoretical articles have been published in the Journal of Imago
Relationship Therapy and The Imago Dialogue.
At home in Montreal, Canada, I have a private practice where I work
with couples, individuals and groups, weaving together my Imago approach
with my psychodynamic training, my humanistic orientation and my own
life experience. I also have a home in London, England, where I offer
Imago training, workshops and consultation.
My
husband, David Howarth, was a reluctant participant at first, when I
gave him the Couples Workshop as his birthday gift! However, he very
quickly saw the benefits and in 1997 he completed the basic Imago training
on the educational track. He is very committed to assisting me at the
workshops whenever possible, and to doing the work with me in our relationship.
We agree that our relationship would not be as rich and passionate if
we had not had the Imago tools to work through our issues
and to deepen our understanding and connection. We disagree about whether
our relationship would have survived at all.