Prepare/ Enrich
Premarital Counseling Program
The Prepare/ Enrich assessment tool is the most widely used couple assessment program for premarital counseling. Couples take an online assessment focusing on topics such as children and parenting, financial planning and budgeting, intimacy, spirituality and religion, roles and responsibilities, leisure time, and creating an overall vision for married life.
Couples receive a ‘scored’ report which indicates where they are aligned and where they have differences needing discussion. Sessions with our couples therapists create the space for conversation on these topics and provide the space to deepen connection, and thoughtfully enter into a partnership together.
About Us
As couples therapists, we are skilled and experienced in relationships and holding space for quality conversation. Learn More
Commonly Asked Questions
How does it work?
Couples have a first session with the therapist to make sure this program is a good fit. After the first session, couples take an online assessment at home, lasting about 30 minutes. The results are emailed to your therapist who prepares and sends your personalized couples’ report to you. Each session consists of reviewing the results in select areas and completing program activities which you will receive in your couples workbook. In between sessions, there is usually homework for you and your partner to complete before returning to the next session. On average, couples attend the initial session plus 6-8, 50 minute sessions.
What is the cost?
The cost for the assessment is a one-time $35 program fee. This fee covers both the assessment and a 36-page couples workbook. Each session cost is $185 for 50 minutes or $220 for a full hour.
Will insurance reimburse us?
No. You need a mental health diagnosis to obtain insurance reimbursement and they typically don’t cover preventative programs. Insurance pays for treatment for the mental health disorder, not marriage prep.
Is Prepare Enrich worth it?
Research has shown that taking the Prepare/Enrich assessment prior to marriage reduces your risk for divorce by 30%.
Is this Religious Based?
There are several different versions of Prepare/ Enrich. Non-religious couples take the standard version. There are also versions for Catholics, Jewish Couples and Interfaith/ Intercultural couples.
Does this fulfill the requirement for my officiant?
Yes. We will give you a certificate of completion that you can provide to your wedding officiant. Prepare/ Enrich is widely used in the Catholic Church and should qualify for your Pre Cana requirement (check first).
Where are you located? Do we need to be in your state?
Prepare/ Enrich is a psycho-educational based program and not couples therapy. Therefore, we are able to provide services to couples anywhere in the United States, and globally.
What if the assessment shows a deeper issue, and need for couples therapy?
Sometimes this happens. Sometimes, premarital counseling highlights distress, and deeper issue that the couple has been avoiding. We are licensed to provide couples therapy in New York and New Jersey through our practice Thrive Counseling Center, LLC. If couples therapy is needed, we can transition, or we can refer you to a couples therapist outside of New York and New Jersey.
Communication Skills
Sometimes it becomes very clear that couples have a difficult time regulation emotions when discussing feelings and often end in arguments. If this happens to you, we have a couples communication skills program that we can add to our work. It’s 5 focused sessions on learning how to have healthy conversations that increase connection and help you solve problems.
Can we come back after the wedding?
YES! Couples often take the assessment at their one-year anniversary. We become a resource for you.
Parenting Version
Parenting is one of the hardest and most rewarding adventures of life. Prepare/ Enrich can help you see where you’re aligned or in conflict, and provide a space for conversation and change.
After having children, each partner’s individual satisfaction may increase, but we have seen time and time again the marital satisfaction will likely decrease. We also know it is completely normal for each partner to approach parenting differently, which can cause stress on the relationship. Don’t let parenting ware down marriage, instead let us help see parenting as a way to grow closer together.
It is vital to keep your marriage at the center of your life, but when you’re a parent, it’s easy to let your kids become the center of your attention. By finding balance in being both parent and partner, you can become more confident in your parenting and relationship skills.
