Meet The Ready Set Relationship Faculty

Meet the Experts at Early Marriage Workshop

Ready Set Relationship offers invaluable guidance to couples embarking on the journey of marriage, helping them to lay a strong foundation for a healthy, fulfilling relationship. This mission is driven by the expertise of its distinguished faculty, including Louann Smith, LCSW-R, and Rita Gazarik, LCSW-R, both of whom bring decades of experience in therapy, mediation, and relationship counseling.

Meet Louann Smith, LCSW-R

Louann Smith is a highly regarded therapist with over 30 years of experience in the field of mental health and relationship therapy. She holds certifications in Group Therapy, Divorce and Family Mediation, Couple and Family Therapy, and Clinical Supervision. Additionally, she is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) at Levels 1, 2, and 3. She is currently working toward certification in sex therapy through the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (ASSECT).

Louann's passion lies in facilitating meaningful conversations and resolutions within family dynamics, particularly among subgroups like mothers and daughters or siblings. Her seminars at the Ready Set Relationship focus on key areas such as divorce mediation, sexuality, and working effectively with couples in therapy. She is also an active faculty member at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy and the Training Institute for Mental Health Practitioners, where she shares her vast knowledge with future therapists.

In addition, she has been married for 30 years and has two adult children. Louann's marriage has been through many iterations, and she's seen firsthand how perseverance, communication, and commitment are possible.

For more information about Louann Smith and her therapeutic approach, you can visit her here.

Meet Rita Gazarik, LCSW-R

Rita Gazarik is another cornerstone of the Ready Set Relationship's faculty, with more than 30 years of experience in administration, training, and clinical practice. She graduated from post-masters training in family therapy from both the Ackerman Institute for the Family and the Family Institute of Westchester. Her expertise extends to teaching at master's and post-masters programs, and she has served as a consultant to organizations like the Hetrick-Martin Institute.

Rita is also a co-author of a chapter in "Ethnicity & Family Therapy," which discusses Czechoslovak culture and offers valuable insights for family therapists. Currently, she is the organizer and director of Family Life Associates in New York City. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at The Silberman Graduate School of Social Work at CUNY. Rita's approach emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural and ethnic backgrounds in family therapy, which enriches her work at the Ready Set Relationship.

For more about Rita Gazarik and her work, visit her here.

The Importance of Ready Set Relationships

The Ready Set Relationship is designed to provide couples with the tools and insights they need to build and maintain a strong, healthy relationship. The workshops are structured to be educational, experiential, and supportive, focusing on enhancing communication and fostering a deep understanding between partners.

The workshops are not only educational but also structured to provide experiential learning opportunities. This approach helps couples practice the skills they learn in real-time, making the transition from workshop to real-life application seamless and effective.

Key Themes and Values

Ready Set Relationship emphasizes several key values that are crucial for a thriving marriage. These include maintaining curiosity about oneself and one's partner, committing to conflict resolution, and sharing leadership within the relationship. By focusing on these areas, the workshop aims to strengthen the relational foundation upon which couples can build their futures.

The Role of Conflict Resolution

One of the critical components of the workshops is teaching couples how to handle conflict effectively. Conflict is a natural part of any relationship, but how it is managed can make all the difference. The workshop provides tools and strategies for navigating disagreements in a constructive way that strengthens the partnership.

Collaborative Leadership

The workshop also focuses on the importance of shared leadership in marriage. By learning to collaborate and share power, couples can create a balanced relationship dynamic where both partners feel valued and heard.

Ready Set Relationship, with the guidance of experienced professionals like Louann Smith and Rita Gazarik, offers couples the opportunity to develop the skills and understanding necessary for a successful marriage. Through education, experiential learning, and a focus on core relationship values, participants are equipped to build lasting, fulfilling partnerships. Whether just starting or looking to strengthen an existing relationship, the workshop provides the support and insights needed to navigate the complexities of married life.

 For more information about the workshops and to register, visit Ready Set Relationships.