I just returned from a bike ride through the beautiful countryside of Central Pennsylvania, where I live and where bike paths are plentiful. You may be wondering why I’m talking about my most recent biking experience when this article is titled Imago Workshops: The Gift That Just Keeps Giving.
While riding, I found myself reflecting on the many experiential similarities biking and Imago Workshops have shared in my life.
I began biking again when COVID first hit. Almost overnight, I was asked to work from home. As an extrovert, I draw energy from being with others, and the isolation required for health and safety was especially challenging. My world suddenly became very small—limited to my husband and my clients, whom I continued seeing virtually.
By the end of March, my husband recognized that we needed to get out of the house and do something physical and joyful. His solution was to surprise me with a visit to a friend’s bike shop, where I rode my first e-bike. It was a perfect day—sunny, mild, quiet roads, few people out. His friend had two bikes ready and told us to take as long as we wanted.
At first, I felt nervous and self-conscious. I was 59 years old and hadn’t been on a bike in over ten years—let alone an e-bike, which I had never even heard of before that day. I rode slowly, cautious and unsure of myself. But we stayed out for an hour and a half, and little by little, my confidence grew. Before long, I was riding as if I had never stopped.
I fell in love with the experience—the warmth of the sun, the gentle breeze, the feeling of freedom, and the joy of being outside with my best friend and life partner. Then, suddenly, while heading downhill, my bike slipped on loose rocks. I panicked, grabbed the wrong brake, and went down hard.
I ended up in an ambulance with blood on my forehead and a badly injured leg. I fainted before the EMTs arrived. Physical recovery took over a month, and emotionally, I was terrified to ride again. Still, I wanted to try. I wanted to reclaim what that first ride had awakened in me.
I started cautiously—avoiding hills, steering clear of gravel. My husband remained patient, kind, and encouraging as I slowly faced each fear again. Over time, I found my way back to a sense of ease and freedom.
Today, more than three years later, I’ve logged over 2,700 miles. I feel one with my bike—more comfortable riding than walking some days. Cycling has become my favorite source of movement, meditation, exploration, and joy. Through it, I’ve discovered new places, made new friends, and entered a community I never expected but now deeply cherish.
So how does this connect to Imago Workshops?
I attended my first Imago Workshop at age 27. A close friend—a psychiatrist in the greater Philadelphia area—and his wife recommended it after completing a couples workshop themselves. I didn’t know much about what they had learned, but the change in their relationship was unmistakable. They were warmer, more empathic, and less reactive with each other.
Around the same time, I was becoming aware of a painful pattern in my own life. I kept entering relationships that began with charm and excitement, only to end three to six months later when I focused on my partner’s flaws and walked away. I was successful in every other area of adulthood—but not in relationships. I couldn’t understand why I kept repeating the same cycle.
Imago offers several types of workshops, including one for individuals not currently in a committed relationship: Keeping the Love You Find: A Guide for Singles. This was the workshop I attended. I was curious, hopeful, and nervous—worried about how I might be perceived, uncertain about what I’d uncover. I wasn’t “broken,” after all. It felt very much like getting back on a bike after a long hiatus and a painful fall.
From the moment I arrived, I realized most of us were carrying similar fears. The therapist, Sunny—aptly named—along with her husband, created a space that felt remarkably safe. Through thoughtfully designed dialogue structures and experiential exercises, we practiced new ways of communicating and reflecting—often with assigned partners in private rooms.
As Sunny gently introduced Imago theory, my understanding deepened. Watching demonstrations and participating myself opened my eyes to patterns I had never fully seen. Somewhere along the way, I had an “aha” moment that finally answered the question of why I kept choosing the same kinds of partners. With that insight came compassion—for myself and for others. Healing began where understanding replaced self-judgment.
Over time, my relationships improved. Change came gradually but unmistakably. Years later, I met my husband, Jim, and together we built the deeply loving marriage we’ve shared for more than 25 years. I truly believe that the Imago Workshop launched the growth that allowed me to become the partner I wanted to be—and to attract the partner I now cherish.
In my 30s, I attended Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples, which brought another layer of learning and healing. There is work that can only be done within the container of a committed relationship. Seeing ourselves through our partner’s eyes—and learning how to support each other’s best selves—deepened our connection and hope.
After becoming a Certified Imago Therapist, I completed a year of advanced training. My professional education, personal workshop experiences, and ongoing commitment to growth have been deeply enriching. Practicing Imago Therapy feels like a natural extension of who I am.
Living in Central Pennsylvania—where Imago Workshops are scarce and only two Imago Certified therapists practice—I hold a dream: to inspire others to pursue training, certification, and the offering of Imago Workshops for couples, singles, organizations, and communities. I believe this work has the power to strengthen partnerships, heal families, and enrich communities both locally and globally.
Because of Imago Workshops, I grew into the partner I hoped to be and found a partner beyond my wildest expectations. Jim and I have raised three children into adulthood and share the joy of a grandson. Through every season, we have continued to be sources of safety and healing for each other.
My husband is the person I admire most in this world—my best friend, my partner, and my greatest blessing.
By: Leslie Sullivan, LPC, CAADC, NCC, Certified Imago Therapist