La Luz Center offers relationship workshop

On Saturday, August 15, La Luz Center will present a workshop called “Art and Science of Love on Achieving Successful Relationships,” at 10:30 a.m. at Booker Hall. The 90-minute presentation is open to the entire community including married or unmarried individuals and couples, divorced and other single people, therapists, ministers, rabbis, or anyone else interested in attending. The cost is $15 per person.
Noris Binet, a trained sociologist, is the Community Development Outreach Director for La Luz. It is her goal to provide programs through the organization that respond to the needs of the community.
“I find that many people are dealing with relationship issues both in the Anglo and the Latino cultures,” said Binet. “This workshop is about building community through all types of relationships whether between couples, employees, community members, or with children. Learning to communicate more affectively is the key to better relationships and is great for building a multicultural community in this area.”
To foster Binet’s goal, positive, research-based information about sustaining a healthy marriage and developing communication skills in all relationships is the focus of the workshop.
The presenters, Marcia Gomez, LCSW and Mike Basta, LCSW are both Gottman certified therapists and are the only local and certified trainers of the Seattle-based Gottman Marriage Institute. Gomez and Basta will jointly present the Gottman method, which specializes in providing practical, research-based skills to strengthen and repair marriages and relationships.
Drs. John and Julie Gottman worked with over 3,500 couples to ascertain the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy marriages and led countless seminars for couples across the United States and internationally while personally training therapists in their method including Gomez and Basta.
“If couples follow even partially the guidance they receive from this training their journey together has no option but to grow deeper,” said local marriage specialist Peadar Dalton, LCSW, who attended a workshop with the Gottmans.
As for Binet, she is hopeful that the workshop will be a sell-out with community members representing all facets of the relationship puzzle in attendance.
“We need to work towards a happy and healthy community where everyone feels self-empowered,” said Binet. “And it is important to note that this is not therapy – it is education. Every person who attends will walk out of here with tools that they can use in their relationships ever day.”
As part of the workshop, participants are welcome to join in an optional potluck lunch at Booker Hall immediately following the presentation. They are asked to bring a meal item to share and serving utensils. Beverages, plates, and silverware will be provided.
Space is limited so please RSVP to nb.laluz@gmail.com or call Noris Binet at 707.938.5131 ext. 101. Checks can be sent directly to La Luz Center P.O. Box 1016, Boyes Hot Springs, CA 95416
La Luz Center and Booker Hall are located at 17790 Geiger Ave in Boyes Hot Springs, a block west of Highway 12, and just over a block north of Boyes Boulevard.