If your counselor, church, or officiant told you to "do PREPARE," you're not alone. PREPARE/ENRICH is a widely used premarital and marriage assessment that helps couples identify strengths and growth areas and then turns that into a practical plan.
This page explains what it is, what happens after you take it, and what to ask your facilitator.
What is PREPARE/ENRICH?
PREPARE/ENRICH is a structured relationship assessment used by trained facilitators. It produces a personalized report designed to guide discussions and skill-building.
It's one of the longest-running and most widely adopted premarital and marriage assessment tools available. Millions of couples have used it worldwide, and it's a standard tool in many counseling practices, churches, and marriage preparation programs.
What does it measure?
Exact scales vary by version and facilitator, but the core idea is consistent:
- What you're already strong at (protective factors)
- Where you differ (expectations, values, habits)
- Where conflict can show up under stress
- Topics couples often avoid until it's too late (money, family, intimacy, roles, etc.)
The value isn't the score — it's the conversation structure you get afterward.
What the process looks like (step-by-step)
1) You find a facilitator
PREPARE/ENRICH is meant to be used with a trained facilitator — a therapist, coach, or clergy member who has completed the certification. They administer the assessment and guide you through the results.
Find PREPARE/ENRICH facilitators near you →
2) You each take the assessment
You typically complete it individually and online. It's quick enough to do in one sitting — most couples finish in about 30–45 minutes.
3) You receive a couple report + debrief
The key session is the feedback and debrief, where the facilitator:
- Walks you through your strengths and growth areas
- Helps you interpret differences without blaming
- Turns it into a practical plan for your remaining sessions
4) You do targeted sessions
Many couples use PREPARE/ENRICH as the backbone for a short premarital program covering:
- Communication skills
- Conflict repair and resolution
- Money management and financial goals
- Boundaries with family and in-laws
- Expectations and household roles
- Intimacy and future planning (including kids)
What to ask your facilitator before you start
Use this as your quality filter:
- How do you run the debrief? (one session vs spread across multiple)
- Do you follow a curriculum after the report?
- How do you handle big differences? (religion, kids, finances)
- Do you give exercises or homework between sessions?
- How many sessions do you recommend for us?
If they can't answer these clearly, you're likely not getting the full value of the assessment.
PREPARE/ENRICH vs other premarital assessments
There are other common premarital tools. Here's how they compare at a high level:
PREPARE/ENRICH
- Best for: Couples who want a structured, data-driven starting point for premarital counseling
- Used by: Therapists, coaches, churches (very widely adopted)
- Strength: Long track record, standardized across many facilitators, directly funnels into guided sessions
SYMBIS (Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts)
- Best for: Couples who prefer a shorter, personality-focused assessment
- Used by: Churches, coaches, some therapists
- Strength: Quick to take, good conversation starter
FOCCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study)
- Best for: Catholic couples doing Pre-Cana or church-required marriage prep
- Used by: Catholic parishes and dioceses
- Strength: Designed specifically for faith-based marriage preparation
- Learn more about Catholic Pre-Cana programs →
Gottman Relationship Checkup
- Best for: Couples who want a research-based relationship health assessment
- Used by: Gottman-certified therapists
- Strength: Based on decades of relationship research at the Gottman Institute
- Find Gottman-trained counselors →
How much does PREPARE/ENRICH cost?
The assessment itself has a fee (typically paid by the facilitator as part of their practice costs), which is usually bundled into your session fees. You generally don't pay separately for the assessment — it's included in the cost of the counseling program.
If you're wondering about total costs for premarital counseling, see our full breakdown: How much does premarital counseling cost? →
Find a PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator
If you want to take it with a professional (or your church requires it), start here:
Find PREPARE/ENRICH facilitators near you →
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