On Sunday, March 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. on the Center Stage at Orcas Center, two internationally known psychologists and Orcas residents, Drs. John and Julie Gottman, will draw upon 30 years of research to show how “emotion coaching” by parents can influence a child’s success and happiness.

The event is presented by Orcas Medical Foundation and it will be free to all who attend. Parents and grandparents are encouraged to hear about the Gottmans’ findings.

“The heart of parenting is connecting with your child emotionally when it really counts,” says Julie Gottman, PhD and volunteer Orcas Medical Foundation board member. “This talk will describe five steps to help you do just that. Even if the parenting you experienced wasn’t ideal, you can still learn to parent differently, so that your children are enriched in every way.”

Based on Dr. John Gottman’s New York Times bestselling book, “Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child,” the Gottmans have conducted emotion-coaching workshops with parents throughout the world.

On March 16, they will discuss specifically what successful parents do to help their children. The Gottmans will also discuss assessing your parenting style, the father’s crucial role, and the following: How emotion-coached children perform better academically, are well-liked by others, have fewer behavioral problems, have fewer infectious illnesses, are more emotionally stable and resilient, focus attention and motivate themselves.