The free workshops– held March 1, 15 and 22– will help couples build stronger connections and enhance their relationships. Partners will learn about the best ways to communicate with and understand their mate using strategies such as affirmation, quality time and acts of service.

Couples CafĂ© workshops on March 1 and 15 will be held at the Marriage and Family Research Institute next to Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s Recreation and Wellness Center on the main campus. The March 22 workshop will be taught in Spanish and held at the institute’s South Orlando campus, 7200 Lake Ellenor Dr.

Workshops are open to the public, but space is limited. Attendees must be 18 or over to participate. To reserve a space, call 407-823-1748.

The Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Marriage and Family Research Institute is part of the College of Education’s graduate counseling program. Created in 2003, the institute conducts research and provides free counseling services for individuals, couples and families. To see the institute in action, watch about one of its research studies, Project T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R.

For more information, visit .

The new 4,000-square-foot building houses seven offices, three childcare rooms, and a large classroom and workshop area with space for more than 40 people.

Besides hosting free counseling and relationship-education workshops, the institute’s new space will serve as the home for Project T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. The grant will study 1,100 participants that range from singles to couples with children, and provide them with relationship education that focuses on preventing stress and conflict.

The original MFRI is on the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ main campus in Building 28, between the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Creative School for Children and the Recreation and Wellness Center. The institute is part of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s College of Education graduate counseling program and offers a variety of free resources and workshops that teaches couples how to strengthen and maintain healthy relationships.

To attend the open house, RSVP to Damaris Soto at damaris.soto@ucf.edu

Extra responsibilities and familial obligations can weigh heavily on couples during the holiday season, especially when children are involved. Parents often put their children ahead of their marital relationship. Money is frequently mismanaged in a season where expectations are heightened under a pressing sense of urgency.

“There are so many additional stresses for those in relationships during the holiday season,” explained Andrew Daire, executive director of the Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ Marriage & Family Research Institute.

“Financial times are tough, and you’ve got additional family stressors,” he said. “In trying to handle that stress, unfortunately the person closest to you tends to get the venom that’s spewed out, even if it’s not directed toward them.”

Daire suggests taking a time-out from the hustle and bustle and reflecting on what makes relationships special.

“Especially when you’re heading into a stressful time, it’s important to slow down, remove the sense of urgency and focus on the positive things about those around you,” he said. “Decrease the criticism, and focus on the power of appreciation.”

It’s a concept that Daire and a team of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝ researchers and graduate students relay to married and unmarried couples throughout the year. Through the MFRI, the team teaches couples how to strengthen and maintain healthy relationships.

The institute is part of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ă˝â€™s College of Education graduate counseling program. The institute offers a variety of free services and resources for couples and singles, including counseling, education workshops and research opportunities.

Earlier this year the institute received a grant for a new program, Project T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R., which will begin providing relationship education to the community in January. The research study is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Family Assistance.

The focus of Project T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. is different from traditional counseling in that it focuses on preventing stress and conflict by teaching strategies for healthy and strong relationships.

The project is geared toward low- to moderate-income individuals and couples with or without children. Participation in study-related research and workshops is free. Childcare and meals also are provided at no cost by the institute.

Registration for Project T.O.G.E.T.H.E.R. is ongoing. Sign up at or by calling 407-823-1748.