Imago Report from Austria

Hedy and Yumi Schleifer brought Imago to Austria in 1997. Based on a lecture at the first World Congress for Psychotherapy, they began Pair Workshops and soon after, began training Imago Relationship Therapists.

In March 1999, this first group of enthusiastic Imago Therapists founded the first Imago Association outside of America, the Imago Association of Austria. From the beginning we have striven to spread the word about Imago to couples and therapists alike. Another important goal of the association has been to establish a "power source" for our Imago Therapists that offers inspiration, tools for expanding knowledge on Pair Therapy, and supports and allows for a professional approach.

Even though there is still a lot of work left to do, Imago Austria has come a long way in the 8 years since its inception in 1999. Here are some figures from Fall 2007

• 35 certified Imago Therapists, another 5 in training
• 9 ceritified Workshop Presenters with about 24 workshops in total, per year
• 300 couples per year come to Imago Workshops
• 2 Clinical Instructors that cover the entire German speaking realm
• A new clinical training will start in 2008

Media:
Our professional image & information for interested couples:

• Our professional IGÖ website www.imagoaustria.at
• Our newsletter "Imago Spiegel" for interested couples and others
• The Imago Folder, similar to the one in America
• the newly translated book "Soviel Liebe wie du Brauchst"
• High quality, color Workshop manuals based on the new IRI manuals
• Each year on Valentines Day Therapists in different regions set up various Imago Events for interested couples
• Lectures from different Imago Therapists based on the goal of the group
  
  How the members stay in contact:
• The Board of Directors sends its news out every 1-2 months by mail
• At least once a year Therapists meet for 1-2 days
• Regular meetings of regional groups, a good way to exchange experiences and see how others work

International Co-Operation and Events:

We are partners with Imago International and, aside from our regional Events, we organize international meetings, as well, in order to establish and strengthen our relationship with our colleagues in other countries.

2000: The first European Imago meeting with 18 participants from 5 countries
2002: The second European Imago meeting with 80 participants from 10 countries
2004: The third European Imago meeting with 100 participants from 9 countries
2007: The first International Imago Conference in Europe with over 300 participants

Structure of the Organisation:
The Imago Association of Austria is a non-profit organization with corresponding statutes and a regularly elected, every 2 years, board of directors. All members of the board are volunteers and therefore not remunerated for their services. The following is a list of the organization of the board of directors of the Imago Association of Austria: Chairperson, Deputy, Secretary, Cashier

1999-2001: Erwin Jaeggle, Charlotte Kronberger, Hubert Sandhofer
2001–2003: Erwin Jaeggle, Max Schallauer, Klaus Brehm, Charlotte Kronberger
2003-2005: Max Schallauer, Eveline Brehm, Klaus Brehm, Eva Riedler
2005-2007: Max Schallauer, Eveline Brehm, Christine Schallauer, Eva Riedler
2007-2009: Eveline Brehm, Max Schallauer, Antonio Strauss

Basic parameters and Development goals:

In Austria Imago has met with a highly developed Psychotherapy Scene which has its own set of laws governing Psychotherapy. Since Sigmund Freud there have been no less than 17 Psychotherapy schools opened in Austria. Some methods are also offered for pairs, although there is no definite Pair Therapy.

Our goal is to establish Imago as the most efficient form of Pair Therapy. Another important goal will be to reach a point where we can offer comprehensive aid to Imago Therapists. Currently Imago exists in Vienna, Upper Austria and Vorarlberg. We hope, through a rise in the number of therapists, to be able to reach out to the as of yet unincorporated states.

The Development of the Imago Association in Austria

The Pioneer Phase, or the first years, were marked by a lot of enthusiasm. There were also difficult internal conflicts which were sometimes solved through dialogues and/or votes.

Then came the important Organizations Phase, at which time a contract with IRI was signed. Through the Board of Directors and a small group of members IGÖ was able to develop a professional website, manual and Spiegel. IGÖ can now present itself as a modern Organization of the Austrian IMAGO Relationship Therapists.

In this relatively highly developed organization a new phase has begun, the Differentiating Phase. On one side there is a group of highly enthusiastic and active members, while on the other there is a group of members who, while viewing IMAGO in a positive light, do not actively participate. We will work hard to bring all the therapists together.

Marketing
The next important task will be to develop a clever Marketing concept which will allow us to be efficient with our limited budget.

Dr. Maximilian Schallauer

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