MODULE ONE
ONLINE
Feb 26 & 27 + April 2 & 3
MODULE TWO
CLEVELAND, OH
May 20 -24, 2027
MODULE THREE
ONLINE
July 23 & 24 + Sept. 10 &11
MODULE FOUR
COSTA RICA
Nov. 11-15, 2027
Mark you calendars now for all dates!!
The Imago Professional Facilitator (IPF) Training is a transformational professional development program for coaches, educators, business owners, managers, consultants, leaders, pastors and professionals who believe that stronger relationships create stronger organizations and communities. Whether you work with individuals, teams, classrooms, or groups, this training will equip you with practical tools to foster trust, deepen connection, navigate conflict, and inspire meaningful collaboration.
Grounded in the proven principles of Imago Relationship Theory and the powerful Imago Dialogue process, you’ll learn how to create conversations that move people beyond defensiveness and misunderstanding toward empathy, creativity, and lasting connection. More than a communication technique, Imago becomes a way of leading; one that transforms the way you listen, teach, coach, facilitate, and influence others.
This training is more than professional development; it is an opportunity to expand your professional impact, strengthen your personal relationships, and join a global community committed to building a more connected and compassionate world; one conversation at a time.
February 26 & 27, 2027 (Fri. & Sat.) Fundamentals of Imago
This foundational module introduces participants to the core principles, theories, and practices of the Imago approach. Through an engaging blend of lecture, live demonstrations, experiential exercises, guided reflection, and hands-on practice, participants will develop a deep understanding of how conscious communication creates stronger relationships in every area of life. Rather than simply learning about Imago, participants will experience its transformational power firsthand while building the skills needed to confidently integrate these concepts into their professional and personal lives.
Participants will learn to:
By the end of this module, participants will have a solid foundation in the Imago method and the confidence to begin using its communication tools in both their personal and professional relationships. This module establishes the essential knowledge and skills that prepare participants for the advanced facilitation work explored throughout the remainder of the training.
April 2 & 3, 2027 (Fri. & Sat.) Applying the Imago Principals in Your Work
This module introduces your Capstone Project, giving you the guidance you need to begin planning early and allowing plenty of time to thoughtfully complete it by the end of the 2027 training program. You will begin to develop a project description outlining how you will apply the principles and practices of Imago within your own professional field.
You will learn details on recording your facilitator skills in various environments such as coaching a client, leading a class, giving effective, safe feedback to your team.
May 20 – 24 (Thurs. – Mon.) Facilitating Difficult Conversations (in Dyads) plus BONUS Equine Experience
Before participants can effectively facilitate transformation in larger systems, they must first master the art of guiding meaningful conversations between two people. This module develops the foundational skills needed to facilitate the Imago Dialogue with individuals and dyads, helping people move from reactivity and polarization to understanding other perspectives and collaboration. Whether working with coaching clients, colleagues, business partners, family members, or co-parents, participants will learn how to create a safe environment where authentic connection can flourish.
Participants will learn to:
By the end of this module, participants will have the confidence and practical skills to facilitate powerful conversations that foster deeper understanding, stronger relationships, and meaningful personal and professional growth. This foundation serves as the cornerstone for applying Imago principles in every setting where communication and relationships matter.
As a unique part of this module, you will spend a day learning alongside horses, whose extraordinary sensitivity to human emotion and energy provides immediate, honest feedback about how we show up in relationship. The horses help provide insight about your actual energy and presence compared to our personal perception.
Through experiential activities, you’ll gain deeper awareness of your leadership style and communication patterns while discovering how authenticity, trust, and emotional congruence influence both individuals and groups. No riding experience is required, as all learning takes place through structured, ground-based exercises that leverage horses’ extraordinary sensitivity to human emotion, energy, and authenticity. This unforgettable experience will strengthen your capacity to embody the principles of Imago, helping you become a more grounded, connected, and effective facilitator in every environment.
July 23 & 24, 2027 (Fri. & Sat) Working with Groups
Sept. 10 & 11, 2027 (Fri & Sat.) Working with Groups (part 2)
This module equips participants with the skills and confidence to facilitate meaningful conversations that deepen connection, trust, and collaboration within groups. Whether working with teams, classrooms, community organizations, workshops, or support groups, you will learn how to create psychologically safe environments where every voice is heard and conflict becomes an opportunity for growth.
Participants will learn to:
By the end of this module, you will be prepared to confidently lead groups that cultivate stronger relationships, increased trust, and lasting transformation.
Nov. 11-15, 2027(Thurs. – Monday) Creating Change in Organizations
Healthy organizations are built on healthy relationships. In this module, participants learn how to apply Imago principles to strengthen communication, leadership, teamwork, and organizational culture. Whether you are a consultant, leader, coach, HR professional, educator, or business owner, you’ll discover practical tools for helping organizations move beyond blame and polarization toward collaboration, innovation, and shared purpose.
Participants will learn to:
Participants will leave with a practical framework for bringing transformational relationship skills into organizations, enabling teams and leaders to communicate more effectively, resolve conflict constructively, and create workplaces where people and performance thrive.
As part of your Costa Rica experience, you’ll enjoy a bonus day dedicated to exploring the country’s breathtaking natural beauty while strengthening connections with your fellow participants. Michelle will coordinate the day’s adventure with input from the group, creating an experience that reflects everyone’s interests and sense of adventure. Possible excursions include a catamaran cruise, a waterfall adventure, relaxing beach time, or other memorable activities that allow you to celebrate your journey together in one of the world’s most beautiful destinations.
STANDARD PRICING
ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
**Full tuition regardless of attendance is required, but you can attend a future training with Michelle or David if you have an emergency.
Michelle Bohls, LMFT, CIRT/F, Director of Imago Texas
Michelle is an internationally recognized Imago Relationship Therapist and Facilitator who specializes in training facilitators and clinicians in the relational paradigm. She is a faculty member with Imago International Training Institute and teaches professionals to facilitate conscious dialogue, relational safety, and transformative connection within couples, groups, and communities. Michelle brings decades of experience in couples work, group dynamics, and relational leadership to her Imago trainings. She is deeply committed to creating inclusive, trauma-aware learning environments that support facilitators from diverse cultural identities and lived experiences. Since 2021, she has led specialized Imago trainings for Clinicians of Color and developed offerings for sex-positive clinicians and men committed to healthy relationships. Michelle mentors emerging Imago leaders and supports Workshop Presenters through supervision and professional development. Her teaching integrates Imago theory, group process, intuition, and experiential learning to help facilitators embody the relational paradigm. Drawing from a background in corporate HR, she equips facilitators to work skillfully with complexity and bring clarity, presence, and depth to their work with individuals, dyads, and groups.
David deBardelaben-Phillips, ACCEP, CIRF/T, Imago Supervisor
David is an educator, facilitator, and relational practitioner dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and organizations grow through meaningful conversation and experiential learning. He is a faculty associate with Imago International Training Institute and Senior Faculty with the Institute of Core Energetics, where he trains professionals in embodied, relational approaches to support transformation. David is the Founder and President of Energetic Awakenings in Cleveland, Ohio, and brings a mind–body–spirit framework to his teaching, facilitation, and leadership work. His professional background includes managing teams in a wide range of settings, including large corporate call centers, hotels, organizational training departments, and nonprofit organizations. This experience informs his ability to translate relational and somatic principles into practical tools for leadership, communication, and collaboration. David specializes in facilitating dialogue around complex and challenging topics such as conflict, organizational change, racism, and LGBTQ cultural competency. As a trainer and group facilitator, he creates spaces that are both safe and stretching, where every voice matters and collective wisdom can emerge. He holds a Master of Education from Cleveland State University with a focus on Adult Learning and Development.
Michelle and David reserve the right to cancel the workshop if it is not meeting the participant minimum requirements OR because of unforeseen restrictions. If either of these occur, we will see that deposit and tuition is refunded in full.
Participants may cancel their registration up to 30 days prior to the start of the first training module and receive a full refund of all monies paid, less a $50 administrative processing fee.
Cancellations received fewer than 30 days before the start of the first module are not eligible for a refund. Because enrollment is limited and your registration reserves a place in the program, participants remain financially responsible for the full program tuition, regardless of attendance or completion.
