PREPARE/ ENRICH Marriage Preparation
Course in NYC

PREPARE/ ENRICH is a marriage preparation course that helps couples identify and work through any potential areas they need to discuss that they may not have identified, or have simply avoided discussing. It satisfies requirements for marriage officiants and is always a good thing to do. It is preventative. People typically pick this option when they simply want to prepare for marriage and identify any areas they may need to discuss. We have clients who take this course and aren’t even engaged yet – they just want to make sure they thoroughly prepare for the next steps.

What to Expect

• The first session: You both come in and get to know the therapist. You talk about your imprint of marriage – your parents marriage – and what you want to repeat and what you don’t! You talk about what is important to you – from rituals and family traditions, to roles and responsibilities – you verbalize the vision you have been thinking about and begin to translate it into an achievable plan.
• The assessment: After the first session, you take an online assessment. The assessment is scientifically reliable and valid, which means it provides accurate and objective results that help you talk about what really matters in your relationship. The process of taking the assessment primes you for conversations and skill building to establish and strengthen your relationship foundation. The inventory will help you and your partner identify your unique strengths, and differences, which become discussion areas with one of our therapists. You schedule 4 sessions on average, and the therapist will walk you through your results and facilitate productive conversations you both need.
• Subsequent sessions: Couples typically complete 2-6 sessions. They make their way through all the areas of the assessment. Talking points and areas of growth come from the assessment. Sometimes real issues are identified and couples can choose if they want to simply finish with the assessment or spend some time working through the issues.

What is PREPARE/ ENRICH?

PREPARE/ ENRICH is one of the most widely used couple assessment programs for premarital counseling. It is the global standard – the #1 premarital and marriage assessment used for over 35 years.

Goals of PREPARE/ENRICH

There are several main goals of PREPARE/ENRICH. A trained facilitator helps couples achieve these goals through exercises designed to improve communication. PREPARE/ ENRICH helps couples:

• Identify topics that need a conversation
• Explore strength and growth areas
• Identify and manage major stressors
• Resolve conflict by strengthening communication skills
• Explore family of origin issues
• Discuss financial planning and budgeting
• Establish personal, couple and family goals
• Understand and appreciate personality differences

Scheduling/ Course Format/ Costs:

COST: $200 per 50 minute session, with a $45 charge for the assessment, couple report, and couple workbook

PAYMENT: Couples can split the cost, each using their own credit card. Payment is made vis IVY Pay, a HIPAA compliant app.

SCHEDULING: Currently only VIDEO sessions are available

GET STARTED: Email info@midtownmft.com or use this link to schedule a free consultation call. 

Commonly Asked Questions About
PREPARE/ ENRICH Marriage Prep Course

Please reach out if you don’t find the answer to your question.

How Many Sessions do we attend?

On average, couples attend 4-8 sessions. The length is determined by the results of the assessment, and how thorough you both want to discuss topics.

Is PREPARE/ ENRICH counseling only for couples who are struggling?

No! The PREPARE/ ENRICH can be taken at any time during your relationship. Many couples who just begin to think about a future together use the assessment to guide them through all the important areas of what a partnership means.

What if the assessment shows a deeper issue?

Sometimes this happens. Sometimes, premarital counseling is the opportunity to discuss a deeper issue that the couple has been avoiding. Struggles around sexual intimacy, connection, financial management, personality styles, etc., could have been present. It’s easy to avoid difficult topics when the magic of a wedding is the main discussion point. This is a good thing. Let our space be the container that holds these difficult conversations. You can decide if you want to stick to covering the assessment points or spend some time working through the deeper issue.

Can we come back after the wedding?

YES! We become a resource for you. We will be here after the wedding if you wish to process, heal, and resolve the deeper areas you are struggling with. Anything you need, we will be here.

Will insurance reimburse us?

Not for PREPARE/ ENRICH. You need a mental health diagnosis to obtain insurance reimbursement and they typically don’t cover preventative programs. If you have an HSA, or similar account, we could give you a receipt to submit.

How long are the sessions?

Typically, you schedule a 50 minute session with a therapist. If you wish to combine sessions to reduce the time, you can schedule 2 sessions in one day.

Is this a workshop or private sessions?

You schedule private sessions with a therapist – just the two of you and the therapist.

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.