Los Alamos Workshop Teaches Gottman Seven Principles To Strengthen Relationships

Couples in Los Alamos seeking a relationship-focused alternative to roses and chocolate will have a local option when Mullein Leaf Wellness Institute launches a Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work workshop led by Michelle Wilde. The series teaches research-backed tools from Dr John Gottman, whose work identifies behaviors linked to long-term relationship success, and promises practical skills couples can practice together.

The first session runs 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 31, with subsequent classes meeting 4:30-6 p.m. on Tuesday evenings. Registration is available at mulleinleafinstitute.com. The format allows working couples and those with varied schedules to attend a weekend kickoff followed by evening sessions, making it feasible for Los Alamos County residents balancing jobs, shift work, and family responsibilities.

Michelle Wilde, LPCC, LMT, CST, is a certified Seven Principles workshop leader, couples counselor and AASECT certified sex therapist. Mullein Leaf Institute is positioned as an integrative mind-body health center offering services such as massage, counseling, EMDR, Safe & Sound Protocol, Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises, sound baths and Bemer sessions. That breadth of services gives couples access to complementary supports if relationship work surfaces trauma or stress-related issues.

Local participants who have taken the workshop reported meaningful shifts in how they relate. Past participants have noted they have finished the class having become "better friends" and valued the opportunity to practice skills with a knowledgeable guide. For Los Alamos, where high-stress professions and close-knit social networks are common, relationship resilience can have spillover benefits for household stability and community cohesion.

The workshop is timed ahead of Valentine’s Day, offering residents a gift option aimed at long-term payoff rather than seasonal consumption. For employers and service providers in Los Alamos County, accessible couple-focused programming may reduce demand for crisis counseling and contribute to employee wellbeing, though uptake will depend on outreach and scheduling that fits local rhythms.

Practical details matter: couples should register at mulleinleafinstitute.com to reserve space, note the Jan. 31 morning start, and plan for weekly Tuesday evening attendance thereafter. Michelle Wilde’s clinical credentials and certification as a workshop leader anchor the course in established practice rather than ad hoc advice.

For readers, the workshop presents a direct action: enroll, attend the kickoff session, and use the tools taught to strengthen communication and connection. For the community, sustained relationship skills can mean calmer households and more resilient networks as Los Alamos moves through the winter social calendar and toward spring.