This workshop, presented by Salvatore Garanzini of The Gay Couples Institute, will be all about solid relationship tools that couples use to keep their relationship happy and healthy, even though they’re also parents or step-parents. We’ll show you how to keep your friendship alive, how to keep the relationship exciting, the importance of repair, and how to approach conflicts with their child/adolescent in ways that make the parenting system stronger. Oddly enough, all of these approaches end up teaching the child how to have a good relationship, themselves, when they become older.

Dinner and childcare provided, please RSVP!

Registration: Click here
When: Monday, August 1, 6-8pm
Where: SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., San Francisco

Relationship intimacy works kind of like a ladder. You both start at the bottom, making low-cost bids for emotional intimacy.

These bids for intimacy include holding hands, touching, and sharing some softer feelings. If these bids are responded to well by your partner, you go up the ladder, toward higher-cost bids. These bids have more vulnerability attached to them, like expressions of love, commitment, bonding, and attachment.

Here’s 7 ways to increase your intimacy, and go up the ladder together:

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“Whose house do we go to this year?” “I don’t get along with my in-laws!” “Your parents aren’t accepting of our family.” “Do we honor our chosen family or birth family?” This workshop will offer discussion, strategies and tips for navigating the holidays. Join Alapaki Yee, cofounder of GCI, as he discusses what makes a satisfying relationship and some of the unique stresses in gay relationships over the holidays, and what research is saying about how couples can move beyond these challenges.

Register: Click Here!
When: Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 6-8pm
Where: SF LGBT Center, 1800 Market St., San Francisco

Also, on 11/10/09 Salvatore and Alapaki were also recently on RadioBoiz Radio Show in St.Petersburg, Florida. Listeners got their questions answered regarding open relationships, gay marriage, and recovering from a breakup. It was a really fun show! Listen here:

Let’s face it, the current economic crisis can be stressful for any couple, and for same-sex couples, who aren’t offered the same financial protections that straight, married couples benefit from, it can be even more so.  That’s one of the reasons that the Gay Couples Institute and Johnny Huang, financial representative from Northwestern Mutual, are teaming up to offer a free workshop for gay couples, “Recession-Proof Your Relationship.”

Talking about and negotiating money issues can be difficult, and in truth many couples try to avoid it, but according to Salvatore Garanzini of the Gay Couples Institute, “Couples who successfully discuss money issues and create a financial plan together end up staying together longer.” Therapists call this creating “shared meaning”, and having more shared meaning helps couples put day-to-day conflicts in perspective and help them deescalate conflict easier. 

During the workshop, Salvatore will discuss why and how to have successful financial discussions with your partner.  Johnny Huang from Northwestern Mutual will be discussing what couples should learn from the financial crisis and specific actions gay and lesbian couples can take to protect and enhance their financial future.

The workshop will be offered on April 20, at 7:00pm. Seating is limited, so please call in advance at 877.424.1221 to reserve your space or if you have any questions. 

On Tuesday, February 17^th, at 7pm, The Gay Couples Institute will be offering a free one hour workshop at it’s downtown San Francisco offices, designed to help both those who already have a great relationship and want to keep it on track, and those who want to rebuild a relationship that is having trouble. Participants will also get a brief introduction to the other services the clinic offers and have an opportunity to sign up for its free newsletter, counseling services or longer, more intensive, weekend workshops.

If you would like to attend the free workshop or are interested in the other services the institute offers contact The Gay Couples Institute at 877.424.1221 

Two quick questions:

1. What are your top two relationship desires? 
2. Do you have any suggestions about topics we should cover in coming workshops or seminars? 

We’ve been asking gay couples these questions for months now; below are many of the responses. Post your answers in the comments below. We read your suggestions to come up with new methods to help couples keep their relationship strong. Thanks!