Increasing Intimacy and Imago with Sophie Slade

A Seminar for Therapists

Many couples who come for therapy experience challenges in their sexual relationship, whether or not this is the presenting issue. The erotic charge of the early days has diminished, disappeared or become a source of frustration and conflict that impacts other areas. Many couples don’t know how to talk about sex in ways that enhance their intimate connection. Many therapists struggle to help navigate their couples through this challenging area of their relationship for a variety of reasons of their own.

This workshop will offer therapists:

• an opportunity to increase their own comfort talking about sex and help their couples talk about sex in ways that build their erotic connection,
• a model that applies Imago theory of developmental stages and the missing self to the area so sexuality.
• an overview of the phases of the sexual arousal cycle identified by icons in the field
• useable dialogue tools and ideas to help couples develop empathic understanding and enhance their erotic connection through the phases of the sexual response cycle.

Outline:

• Introductions and settling
• Application of the Imago Developmental threads to the sexual relationship – needs, adaptations, challenges in the sexual relationship, potential for growth and healing
• The Sexual Appreciation Dialogue
• Enhancing each phase of the sexual response cycles
• The Sexual Self-Appreciation Dialogue
• Application of Imago theory of the Missing Self to the sexual relationship – lost, denied and disowned sexual selves, resulting conflicts, and the growth potential from re-integration.
• The Lost Sexual Self Dialogue
• Group Discussion

About the Presenters: Sophie Slade is an Imago Relationship Therapist, workshop presenter, senior clinical instructor and clinical psychologist. David Howarth is a regular bloke and retired electrician. He has been assisting Sophie in presenting workshops for over 20 years. Sophie and David have been lovers and life partners for many years and have had to overcome lots of the challenges that so many long-term couples face in their sexual relationships.