I learn more each time from these types of threads. From my armchair these are my very encapsulated thoughts, the issues have been covered by many, in countless ways, on other threads, and in the books etcetc. Reading, and re-reading is very useful.
The student and teacher have, together have reached a 'block' - I know only little about either person.
It is described as something to do with counter movements - counter movements are higher level movements, and, physical limitations aside, are likely to result from more fundamental problems, or possibly feeling no need for them by simply using pressure/speed ie long turns on easy snow and slopes
Video for MA is really required - if there is no SMIM, then back to the beginning and rebuild balance, then movements etcetc
Imagery can be tried as a breakthrough, but can go wrong. The 'diving into the abyss' image may work in this case for the teacher, but for the athletic student it might be interpreted as a 'power dive off a cliff' and reinforce bad movements. Maybe better to ask the student what his feelings are and then reinterpret them, but this is all intuitive stuff. The more highly skilled the teacher the better they will be at this.
I predict that video would show 'pushing off' - solving that requires the above approach.
Over summer, tilt board exercises would likely help.
My 0.02c