Reprieve /Ultimate Relationship / Starbucks/ Elephant - 5/12/08

[Smartmarriages]

- TWO DAY EXTENSION
- WOULD THE REAL PRICE PLEASE STAND UP.....
- STARBUCKS
- THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM: MARK LAASER SESSIONS

####################
- TWO DAY EXTENSION

Due to many plaintive requests about getting your groups pulled together for
the group discount AND a computer glitch on our end, we've moved the
early-bird deadline back two days.  You get a reprieve.  Early rate now good
until May 14 at midnight.  Then that's it.
Register online at: http://gotomylist.com/cme/smc05/smc08rf2.cfm
Download brochure at: http://www.smartmarriages.com/download.brochure.html

#####################
- WOULD THE REAL PRICE PLEASE STAND UP.....

> Diane,
> I don't want to further complicate issues - however, the ad on page 15 of the
> conference brochure says the entire ULTIMATE RELATIONSHIP program is $199. I
> assume this is the original Ultimate Relationship program. Which is correct -
> the ad at $199 or your email (and your website) at $249?
> Gregg

You've heard the saying, sometimes the right hand doesn't know what the left
hand is doing.....  I just checked with the Robbins-Madanes Center and the
Smart Marriages discount of $199 is correct through the end of the
conference. As it says in the ad, order at http://www.FreeTonyFilmcom and
use coupon code CMFCE or order at their exhibit in San Francisco.  And, as
stated, the new Ultimate Relationship program will be $100 - available at
the conference.  - diane

######################
- STARBUCKS

>> There¹s a Starbucks in the hotel!  Thank you thank you thank you!!!!  ;-)
>> Tricia 
> 
> Yes, but wonder how much they'll be charging for a cup of coffee.....there's
> also a Kinkos in the hotel and they charge 15¢ per copy. ;)
> Diane 

######################

- THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM: MARK LAASER SESSIONS
 
I read with interest the Smartmarriages post about Michelle¹s Time article:
³Help for Sex-Starved Wives²
<http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1728520.oo.html> ).

Certainly some cases of low male libido are the result of a biological
problem the man is having or an emotional struggle he is going through or
even relationship issues in the marriage.  But whenever I am working with a
man who has a lower sexual desire than that of his wife, the first topic of
discussion is his use of pornography.  While there is often a reticence on
the part of men to blurt out the details of their pornography habits, many
men (when pressed) reveal the truth of their situation.  And is it any
wonder that the husband who uses pornography ends up finding his wife less
attractive / less appealing / less sexually arousing?  My interest in this
topic emerged nearly 25 years ago when I was giving a talk on self-esteem
and a woman in the audience asked a very personal question in the midst of
the whole group. She stated that her self-esteem had been steadily
plummeting during the previous year as her husband had become increasingly
disinterested in sex.  She pointed out that a couple years ago her husband
had started to regularly enjoy pornography, and she asked if there might be
a connection between his pornography use and his decreased interest in sex
in their marriage.  The answer is yes.  In working with married men, I
operate with the assumption that if a young man (under 55) who is reasonably
healthy has ³lost² his sexual desire in his marriage, then he is getting
satisfied someplace else.  And in the vast majority of cases, this
assumption has been accurate. But this is a topic that we do not often
enough address, and I understand why. I was on a radio talk show a while
back and the topic of indiscrete public sexual behavior by athletes (in
particular, some Minnesota Vikings) came up.  I was asked why such behavior
takes place.  I responded by talking about the prevalence of pornography use
in the culture and some of its consequences (one of which is the thought
that pornographic behavior has gained broader societal acceptance).  The
host of the show, who just five minutes before that had asked me if I could
stay for another half hour or so, during the next break informed me that
something had come up and so they were going to have to cut the my time
short.  This is not a topic that a lot of people want to address.  But
clearly there is an elephant in the living room (and that elephant is
growing).  

I would like to encourage all those who have the opportunity to work
directly with married couples who are struggling with sexual issues to not
shy away from this topic.  AND I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND MARK LAASER'S
PRESENTATIONS AT THE SMART MARRIAGES CONFERENCE - HE IS WONDERFUL
 
John Buri (jrburi at stthomas.edu)

Mark Laaser is presenting twice, a 90 min workshop and a full-day training
institute: 

> 407 - Friday, July 4
> Internet Sex Addiction ­ TOOB
> Mark Laaser, PhD, MDiv
> Porn, the #1 seller on the internet, has become extremely damaging to
> marriage. Learn to recognize the symptoms and to prevent and help overcome
> addiction to internet sex.

>  906 One Day - Sunday, July 6
> Working with Couples and Sexual Addiction
> Mark Laaser, PhD, MDiv
> Learn crucial tools for working with couples that are dealing with the pain of
> sexual addiction. Recognize the symptoms and develop a recovery plan for the
> addict, spouse and couple. $50 spouse discount. Click for more
> information:http://www.smartmarriages.com/laaser.html

------ End of Forwarded Message