Emily Harrington-Cheney, LPC, IRT, CGP

Couple’s Counseling & Workshops:
Cultivating Conscious Connection

Many couples expect the connection that first brought them together to carry them through the years ahead. When the passion and energy we felt during the beginning of our relationship begins to cool, we may second guess our decision to commit. But if we accept the challenge, that transition allows us to enter into a deeper, more authentic union with our chosen partner.

• You may be considering marriage, wanting to ensure that you each have the skills to make it work over time.
• You may feel like you’re on autopilot in your relationship, wondering if you’ll ever be truly connected again.
• You’re puzzled about why your partner doesn’t see things the way you do when it comes to parenting, household chores, or everyday communication.
• You simultaneously love and hate your partner, and resentment has been building.

Our romantic relationships are inherently dynamic and complex. As a couple’s counselor, I specialize in working with romantic partners to promote dialogue, reduce negativity, and build positive connection for the long term. What special magic makes this work? I base my approach in the Imago Relationship Therapy framework, which recognizes that a lot of how we operate as romantic partners can be explained by looking at our earliest relationships. Imago provides a structured process for building a conscious partnership.

Whether you’re looking for premarital counseling or you’re seeking more authentic connection with your partner or spouse, the Imago dialogue can significantly deepen and enhance your romantic relationship, dissolve resentments, and restore loving energy. The Imago framework emphasizes safety, structure, and healthy communication to help partners connect around and beyond conflict. Through our work in counseling, you’ll develop a shared vision for what you want your relationship to look like, then create specific goals to work toward together.