The counselor is “In”
Thank you for taking a moment to read about the Imago Weekend Workshop for Couples . . .
Regardless of whether you are a practitioner who regularly refers to the weekend or are in that “pre-referral” stage, I want you to know that I understand how much it takes to send a valuable client into the hands of another therapist! Frankly, I admire the confidence and competence of everyone who does so! And, I want to address a couple of questions you might have.
Does the workshop encourage continued work with a therapist?
Absolutely! No one weekend can replace the need for ongoing couples therapy. I actively encourage couples to view this workshop not as a substitute for their work with you, but rather, as an important jump-start or adjunct to the therapeutic process. I offer this advice both verbally in the weekend and in our post-workshop email to clients.
Will my clients come back to me?
To your clients, I guarantee money back. To you, I guarantee that I will not accept any clients your refer to the workshop into my practice – ever, unless you specifically refer them to me. I do offer a monthly follow-up group to couples who attend the weekend, but hand pick couples for this group and will not offer it to your clients without your prior approval.
ALL WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS READ THIS STATEMENT FRIDAY NIGHT:
“If you were referred to us by another therapist, it will not be ethical for me to accept you as my own therapy client, even after you terminate with your therapist. It might interest you to know that those therapists who refer to this weekend are among the most experienced, competent, and successful professionals I know in the Houston community. It has been my experience that if you were sent here by a therapist, you are already in excellent hands!”
Will I receive feedback?
I will be happy to obtain permission from your clients for me to provide you with feedback about my experience with them and theirs with me. Typically, I obtain permission to send you a copy of the evaluation form they complete at the end of the weekend and call you the week following the workshop to arrange a follow-up consultation.
Do you supply brochures?
The internet has allowed me to substitute email brochures for more labor-intensive, expensive hard copies. If you would like an email brochure to be sent to a prospective couple, please let me know via email and I will send you one that can be forwarded to your clients.
A thought about why this weekend works:
The research of John Gottman, with which we are all familiar, suggests that couples stuck in years of deadlock require something larger, something outside themselves, to break loose. Individual therapists have difficulty providing that experience in the typical weekly office session. The workshop, however, offers a perfect example of what John recommends: a prolonged, emotionally intense experience that is “bigger” than themselves. The brilliantly crafted exercises created and assembled by Dr. Hendrix assist not only in breaking through defensive armor, but in the restoration of compassion and genuine connection, even after years of impasse.
The result for you? Your job gets easier because your couple comes back more open, more connected, more motivated to work.
Thank you for considering me as a resource to your practice. I hope you will let me know of any questions you might have. With permission from your clients, I will make every effort to provide you with relevant feedback regarding their progress through the workshop.
Thank you for considering this workshop as an alternative for your clients,
Barbara R