Relationships often require ongoing care, attention, and curiosity, regardless of how long a couple has been together. Some people seek couples counseling when they feel disconnected or unsure how to navigate challenges with their partner, while others simply want to strengthen their foundation. That’s where Prepare/Enrich may help.
Prepare/Enrich may be mentioned in conversations about relationship counseling, support, communication, and partner readiness, yet many couples don’t fully understand what it is or how it works. This blog explains what you could expect in a clear, compassionate way to help you feel more informed about your options.
What is Prepare/Enrich?
Prepare/Enrich is a structured premarital and marriage assessment tool designed to help couples strengthen their connection. The program was developed by Dr. David Olson, and it was created on a foundation of well-respected relationship theories. It is used by many trained facilitators across the U.S. The program uses a customized online assessment along with guided exercises to help couples understand their strengths, growth areas, and communication patterns.
Research on Prepare/Enrich has shown that it:
- Lowers a couple’s risk of divorce by 31%
- Improves relationship satisfaction
- Predicts couple success
Although it is commonly associated with premarital counseling, the program is not limited to couples preparing for marriage. Many long-term partners, newly dating couples, and married couples can benefit from it.
Is Prepare/Enrich effective?
Additional research also shows that structured relationship education programs like Prepare/Enrich can improve overall relationship satisfaction. Prepare/Enrich draws on decades of research on relationship dynamics, communication patterns, and resilience.
It is important to note that not every therapeutic approach or program works for everyone. Effectiveness can depend on factors such as:
- A couple’s willingness to be open and reflective
- Motivation to practice new skills
- Comfort with the couples counselor or trained facilitator
- Alignment between the program structure and the couple’s needs
Who can benefit from Prepare/Enrich?
Prepare/Enrich is designed to help a wide range of couples, including those who are:
- Preparing for marriage or a long-term commitment: Partners may want to strengthen communication, clarify expectations, and build a strong foundation.
- Adjusting to life transitions: Major changes, such as moving in together, blended family dynamics, becoming parents, or career shifts, can bring new challenges.
- Looking to refresh their connection: Even couples who are doing well may want to improve their closeness or communication skills.
- Navigating recurring patterns: Prepare/Enrich can help couples examine recurring conflicts or misunderstandings from a structured viewpoint.
How Prepare/Enrich can help couples
Prepare/Enrich focuses on exploring strengths, identifying growth areas, and learning practical skills that support mental well-being. Some exercises overlap with themes in couples therapy, such as communication, self-awareness, and understanding.
Couples may report benefits in areas such as:
- Improved communication
- Greater self-understanding
- Strengthened emotional connection
- Clarity on shared expectations
- Increased relationship satisfaction and confidence
- Extra support during stressful seasons
What to expect in Prepare/Enrich sessions
Prepare/Enrich sessions typically include:
- An initial meeting: The facilitator, counselor, or therapist meets both partners to explain the process, answer questions, and discuss goals and concerns.
- Online assessment: Each partner individually completes a questionnaire covering topics such as communication styles, conflict resolution, stress and coping skills, financial management, emotional connection, intimacy, family background, beliefs and expectations, relationship satisfaction, and strengths and growth areas.
- Review of results: Therapists or facilitators discuss results in a supportive, constructive way. One of the goals is to highlight themes and guide helpful conversations between partners.
- Skill-building sessions: Couples may engage in structured exercises and discussions. Topics may include communication skills, managing stress, navigating conflict, exploring family backgrounds, deepening intimacy, and life planning.
- Wrap-up and next steps: Couples may leave with a clearer understanding of their strengths and a plan for continued growth. Therapists or facilitators may also suggest further couples counseling.
Examples of questions on the Prepare/Enrich assessment
The Prepare/Enrich assessment includes questions designed to help couples explore their relationship dynamics, communication patterns, and individual perspectives. These questions are typically answered online and then reviewed together with a trained facilitator, couples counselor, or therapist.
While the exact questions can vary, here are examples of questions you may see:
- How comfortable do you feel expressing your needs and concerns to your partner?
- When disagreements arise, how do you and your partner typically handle them?
- How do you and your partner align on long-term life goals?
- What expectations do you each have regarding roles in the relationship?
- How do you and your partner make important decisions together?
How to find a Prepare/Enrich facilitator
Choosing the right mental health professional or facilitator for your needs can be helpful for improving your experience. Consider:
- Looking for professionals specifically trained in Prepare/Enrich
- Asking how they use the assessment in sessions
- Checking if a mental-health-focused background
- Considering whether you prefer online or in-person therapy sessions
If you’re exploring couples counseling with a professional who is also a Prepare/Enrich facilitator, you can browse mental health professionals near you at findmytherapist.com to compare options and see which local therapists offer relationship support.
Things to consider
Prepare/Enrich may not be suitable for everyone. It can be important to keep in mind:
- If one partner feels resistant, sessions may feel less productive.
- Prepare/Enrich isn’t a replacement for couples counseling.
- Structure may vary. Some couples prefer open-ended conversations, while others may benefit from more structured exercises.
- Comfort with the therapist or facilitator is important.
Other couples counseling approaches, such as Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) or The Gottman Method, may be helpful depending on your needs.
Takeaway
Relationships can thrive when partners learn, reflect, and grow together. Prepare/Enrich provides a structured way to explore topics, understand one another, and strengthen connections. It emphasizes celebrating strengths, building mutual understanding, and fostering a relationship that feels emotionally safe and supportive.
Whether preparing for marriage, navigating life transitions, or hoping for a closer connection, learning new relationship skills can support both the quality of your partnership and mental well-being. If you and your partner are curious about communication or relationship skills, explore therapists near you at findmytherapist.com.