Two relationship doctors who aim to solve love spats will be on the Island for a seminar this weekend.

Suzette Brawner and Dr. Gary Smalley will be speaking at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess tomorrow evening and Saturday morning during the Heart to Heart Couples Mentoring Ministries DNA of Relationships Conference.

Dr. Smalley is known as America?s relationship doctor and is the author and co-author of more than 40 books. His latest title is ?The DNA of Relationships?.

Mrs. Brawner is the co-author of ?Taming the Family Zoo? as well as being an event speaker across the United States and a frequent radio guest.

Mrs. Brawner met her husband of 34 years on a blind date and is a mother of three and a grandmother.

She uses humour, encouragement, wisdom, and experience to connect in a heart-to-heart way with people and she has been known to quickly move an audience from serious, thought provoking moments to uncontrollable laughter.

Mrs. Brawner was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, and received a Bachelor?s degree in education from the University of Arkansas.

She was a teacher for more than 20 years and was the director at Kanakuk Kamps, in Branson, Missouri.

She has worked with Gary Smalley at Smalley Relationship Center for many years and is the recipient of the Angel Award and the Silver Medallion. Speaking publicly has been a dream of hers since she was a member of the high school debate team.

?But my passion was for my family,? she said, ?And when our last child left home I dove into what I was waiting to do. My husband, Jim and I have a book, ?Taming The Family Zoo?.

?My daughter Jill and I are finishing a manuscript this summer for a book that will hopefully come out in the fall.

?I speak for church, community, and corporate events all over the US and now I have the opportunity to come to Bermuda.? Mrs. Brawner said watching families fall apart makes her sad.

?It seems to be happening more rapidly than ever now,? she said.

?There are so many things to pull us away from our family. We need to get back to the basics and return the focus on what matters most. Those attending the conference will learn some of these concepts.?

When asked whether lack of finances played a large part in the breakdown of marriages, she said: ?I do agree that the lack of financial resources can cause a lot of stress in a marriage, but that is, in my opinion, not the defining factor for a marriage falling apart.

?Granted having all the money that you think you might need would be handy, but if the marriage is not strong it does not matter how much money you have. Just as money cannot buy happiness, it cannot buy a satisfying and strong marriage.?

During the conference Mrs. Brawner will be teaching elements of maximising harmony and minimising stress.

?A few of the things I will be touching on are traps we fall into and how to avoid them, how to decrease arguments by at least half in all of your relationships; how to get rid of the most destructive behaviour we all can fall victim to; and how to instantly have more fun.?

In the last 35 years Dr. Smalley has spoken to more than two million people in live conferences and he has appeared on US national televisions programmes such as ?Oprah Winfrey?, ?Larry King Live?, ?NBC Today Show? as well as numerous national radio programmes such as ?Focus on the Family?.

He is president and founder of the Smalley Relationship Center providing conferences across America as well as books, videos and small group curriculum. He and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years, live in Branson, Missouri and have three children, and eight grandchildren.

Dr. Smalley?s book ?The DNA of Relationships? is based on five years of new extensive research and provides the most practical principles on strengthening your relationships.

He said: ?I will be speaking about how you are designed by God to be in three exciting and fulfilling relationships ? in a relationship with God, self and others.

?I will also talk about the Fear Dance. Have you ever gone round and round with your partner until you just didn?t want to discuss it anymore? I?ll talk about how your ?buttons? get pushed and how you can break the dance.

?And lastly, I?ll be talking about safety ?about creating an environment that feels safe, where true intimacy can take root and bloom, how your personal differences can enhance your relationship instead of causing problems and how you can adopt an attitude of curiosity that brings excitement to your life.?

Dr. Smalley says what he does is not marriage counselling, but is instead marriage ministry.

?I?ve never been ?just a counsellor?,? he said.

?It was during college that I felt a calling to do full-time marriage ministry.?

When asked about the change in society of parents and spouses working longer hours and trying to balance family life he simply said: ?All things change. Society changes and marriages do too.?

He said his organisation will help ?couples create healthy, lasting relationships?.

So, does he establish whether love exists between the couple?

?No, we help couples renew their love for each othe,? he said.

Dr. Smalley declined to answer when asked what he viewed as the most fantastic marriage turnaround he had witnessed.

?I?m sorry, I need to respect patient confidentiality,? he said.

Tickets are $90 and are available at Computer City, Caesar?s Pharmacy, and ?Al-Mil? Enterprises and members ( 293-2903 or fax 293-2975, email: almilnorthrock.bm.