Imago Relationship Therapy in Sandy Springs, Georgia
Imago Relationship Therapy is a structured, research-informed approach to couples therapy that treats conflict not as a sign your relationship is failing, but as a map to exactly where it can heal. I’m Michelle Morris, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Imago Relationship Therapist practicing in Sandy Springs, and for more than 30 years I’ve helped couples use that map to end repetitive fights and rebuild real connection.
If you and your partner are smart, capable people who somehow keep having the same argument — about money, chores, sex, in-laws, or nothing you can even name — Imago was built for you.
Why couples choose Imago
Most couples don’t struggle because they lack communication skills. They struggle because each partner’s nervous system has learned to protect itself in ways that trigger the other’s defenses. He shuts down; she pursues. She criticizes; he stonewalls. The content of the fight changes, but the choreography never does.
Imago Relationship Therapy, developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt, starts from a simple, well-supported premise: we are unconsciously drawn to partners who carry both the positive and the frustrating traits of our earliest caregivers. That’s not a design flaw — it’s the psyche’s attempt to finish unfinished business. The friction you feel with your partner is pointing directly at the place where growth is possible.
In our work together, you’ll learn to see your partner’s most maddening behavior as information rather than attack, and your own reactivity as a protective pattern that made sense once and doesn’t anymore. Conflict stops being something to win and becomes something to decode.
What happens in an Imago session
Sessions are 75 minutes — deliberately longer than a standard therapy hour, because real dialogue between two people takes time. The centerpiece of the work is the Imago Dialogue, a three-step structure of mirroring, validation, and empathy that slows the conversation down enough for both nervous systems to stay regulated. Instead of talking to me about each other, you talk to each other, with me guiding the process.
Couples are often surprised by how quickly the temperature drops. When you know you’ll be fully heard before being answered, you stop fighting to be heard. That alone changes most arguments.
Over a course of sessions, we typically work on: the specific recurring conflict that brought you in, the childhood roots of each partner’s triggers, rebuilding appreciation and positive connection (not just conflict repair), and giving you the dialogue tools to use at home — so the goal is your independence, not endless therapy.
Is Imago right for you?
Imago works best for couples who are both willing to show up, even if one of you is skeptical — skepticism is normal and welcome. It’s a strong fit if you’re dealing with repetitive conflict, emotional distance, communication breakdowns, the aftermath of a breach of trust, or a relationship that’s “fine” but flat. It is not crisis intervention; if there is active abuse or untreated addiction, we’ll talk honestly in your consultation about the right first step.
Credentials that matter
“Certified Imago Relationship Therapist” is a formal credential earned through Imago Relationships International’s clinical training and certification process — it is not the same as being “Imago-informed.” I hold that certification, I’m a member of GRITS (Georgia Regional Imago Therapists of the Southeast), and I serve as a clinical reviewer for Deeper Global on Imago therapy and couples conflict patterns. I’m licensed as an LPC in Georgia and Pennsylvania and an LPCC in California, which means we can work in person in Sandy Springs or by secure telehealth if you’re anywhere in those three states.
Logistics
- Sessions: 75 minutes, $375
- Location: 6000 Lake Forrest Drive, Suite 400, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 — or HIPAA-compliant telehealth (GA, PA, CA)
- Insurance: I’m out of network, and I provide superbills you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. Many PPO plans reimburse a meaningful portion of the fee.
- Getting started: Every couple begins with a free 20-minute consultation so we can decide together whether this is the right fit.
Frequently asked questions
What is Imago Relationship Therapy in simple terms? Imago is a form of couples therapy based on the idea that we unconsciously choose partners who resemble our early caregivers, and that our recurring conflicts point to old wounds seeking healing. It uses a structured dialogue to replace reactive arguing with genuine listening, so couples can turn conflict into connection.
How is Imago different from regular marriage counseling? Traditional counseling often centers on the therapist mediating between partners. In Imago, you and your partner talk directly to each other using a structured dialogue while I guide the process. The skills transfer home because you practice them with each other, not with me.
How long does Imago therapy take? Most couples I work with attend weekly or biweekly 75-minute sessions and feel meaningful change within the first two to three months, with a full course of work often running three to nine months depending on goals. Some couples return for periodic tune-ups.
Does Imago therapy work? Peer-reviewed research on Imago has found significant increases in marital satisfaction and empathy after a structured course of sessions. In my three decades of practice, the couples who engage with the dialogue process consistently report fighting less, repairing faster, and feeling closer.
Do you offer Imago therapy online? Yes. The Imago Dialogue translates remarkably well to video sessions, and I offer secure telehealth to couples anywhere in Georgia, Pennsylvania, or California.
Ready to stop having the same fight? Book your free 20-minute consultation or call/text (404) 383-0275.