We all want our relationships to be meaningful, the place where we can be fully ourselves, be accepted and find happiness. Yet we look around and see a world filled with broken relationships – divorce, unstable relationships and marriages, escaping through addictions. It is often hard to feel any sense of hope in the midst of this experience.
Couples therapy is about more than resolving conflict—it is about restoring hope. Healthy relationships are built not only on learning how to navigate disagreements, but also on rebuilding the friendship, admiration, trust, and emotional connection that brought you together in the first place.
When conflict arises, our natural instinct is to protect ourselves. We may become defensive, withdraw, criticize, shut down, or insist on proving our point. While these reactions are understandable, they often leave both partners feeling unseen and unheard, making it nearly impossible to resolve the deeper issues beneath the conflict.
Healing begins when couples learn to create enough safety to become vulnerable with one another. As understanding grows and defensiveness softens, new possibilities emerge—for empathy, healing, and deeper connection. Rather than seeing conflict as a sign that something is wrong with the relationship, Imago Relationship Therapy views it as an opportunity for growth and for creating the relationship you both long for.
One of the primary goals of couples therapy is helping partners develop healthier, more effective ways of communicating and resolving conflict. This begins by creating a safe environment where each person can express not only their thoughts, but also the deeper emotions, unmet needs, and past experiences that shape the relationship.
As couples learn a new way of listening and responding to one another, defensiveness begins to soften and understanding grows. Conversations become opportunities for connection rather than conflict, allowing each partner to share hopes and dreams that may have remained hidden for years. From this place of safety and acceptance, couples are better able to support one another in creating the relationship they both desire.
This approach is known as Imago Relationship Therapy, developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt and introduced in the bestselling book Getting the Love You Want. As a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist and Consultant, I use the Imago Dialogue—a simple yet powerful process that helps couples move beyond blame and misunderstanding toward empathy, healing, and deeper connection.
Watch the founders of Imago Relationship Therapy, Harville Hendrix, Ph.D. & Helen LaKelly Hunt, PhD., talk about the Imago Process.
Taking the first step toward couples therapy can feel both hopeful and vulnerable. I invite you to reach out so we can discuss your relationship, what brings you in, and whether my approach is the right fit for you.
Call me at 310-268-7792 or email me to schedule an initial session.
Prior to our first meeting, you will receive access to my HIPAA-compliant online portal through SimplePractice. There, you will complete admission and consent forms that provide an opportunity to reflect on the concerns that bring you to therapy and share important background information that will help me better understand your relationship.
Meaningful therapy is an investment in your well-being. Like any worthwhile investment, it asks something of you. While financial considerations are important, lasting growth also requires your time, emotional energy, and willingness to engage in the process. Together, these investments create the foundation for meaningful and enduring change.
Click here to learn more about Your Investment of Time, Energy & Finances
(310) 268-7792
Michael@DrMichaelD.com
11704 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 245
Los Angeles, CA 90025
