What is the PREPARE/ENRICH Program? 

The PREPARE/ENRICH is a program based on a set of five inventories that examine major relationship issues a couple may experience.  These inventories must be administered by a trained PREPARE/ENRICH Counselor and include optional 4-6 feedback sessions in which the counselor facilitates discussion between the couple based on their inventory results.  

How many people have taken the PREPARE / ENRICH Program?

Over 2 million couples have taken the PREPARE/ENRICH Program (4 million people) since it began in 1980.

What are the five different inventories?

1. PREPARE - Pre-marital couples
2. PREPARE-MC - Pre-marital couples with children
3. PREPARE-CC - Cohabiting Couples with or without children
4. ENRICH - Married couples with or without children
5. MATE - Couples over the age of 50

What are the major goals of the PREPARE/ENRICH Program?

There are six goals of the PREPARE/ENRICH Program.  In order to achieve these goals there are also six corresponding couple exercises designed to help couples improve their relationship skills.  The six goals are:

1. To explore Relationship Strengths and Growth Areas
2. To learn Assertiveness and Active Listening Skills
3. To learn how to resolve conflict using the Ten Step Model
4. To help the couple discuss their Family-of-Origin
5. To help the couple with financial planning and budgeting
6. To focus on personal, couple and family goals

What relationshop areas are assessed by the Inventories?

The following are the 20 relationship areas assessed in each of the five Couple Inventories:

A. Focuses on Significant Issues for Couples (14 scales)

Communication Conflict Resolution Personality Issues Financial Management Sexual Expectations Marital Satisfaction Leisure Activities

Children and Parenting Family and Friends Expectations/Cohabitation Issues Idealistic Distortion Role Relationship Spiritual Beliefs

B. Personality Assessment (4 scales):

Assertiveness Self Confidence

Avoidance Partner Dominance

C. Couple and Family Map (4 scales):

Family-of-Origin Closeness Family-of-Origin Flexibility Couple Closeness Couple Flexibility

What evidence is there that the PREPARE/ENRICH Program is valid & reliable?

An important strength of the PREPARE/ENRICH Inventories is their strong psychometric properties. High levels of reliability and validity have been found for each instrument, making them valuable tools for research as well as clinical use. The national norm base, validity and reliability information are listed below.

National Norms based on:
500,000 couples for PREPARE
200,000 couples for PREPARE-MC
100,000 couples for PREPARE-CC
250,000 couples for ENRICH
150,000 couples for MATE

High Levels of Validity and Reliability:
PREPARE has validity in that it discriminates premarital couples that get divorced from those that are happily married with about 80-85% accuracy. Reliability is high (alpha reliability of .80 - .85).

For more information about research with the PREPARE/ENRICH Inventories, see Research Studies.

Who uses PREPARE/ENRICH ?

• The inventories have been utilized by over 60,000 trained clergy members and professional counselors throughout the U.S. 
• Over 2 million couples have taken a PREPARE/ENRICH inventory and worked through their results under the guidance of one of our trained counselors.
• We also have offices in 13 countries throughout the world. 

Who developed the PREPARE/ENRICH Inventories?

The company began in 1980 as a result of several research projects at the University of Minnesota in which Dr. David Olson developed a set of inventories for couples known as PREPARE/ENRICH Because of the demand for the inventories, Dr. Olson began the company PREPARE/ENRICH (now called Life Innovations) to provide these helpful tools to counselors and clergy members.

Over the years this small dream has continued to grow at a remarkable rate.  There are now a total of 5 couple inventories that can be used for premarital and married couples.  We have also trained over 60,000 PREPARE/ENRICH Counselors in the U.S., and have 13 International Offices.  Over 2 million couples have completed one of the couple inventories.

DAVID OLSON, Ph.D 
Professor Emeritus, Family Social Science, University of Minnesota & President, Life Innovations; Developed ten diagnostic tools and Circumplex Model; Licensed Consulting Psychologist and Licensed Marital & Family Therapist, State of Minnesota.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER

Versatile Seminars Plus offers PREPARE/ENRICH Training Workshops, both live in person, or as a Tele-program, over the phone.  For the next dates and times of the offerings, click on the below links:

LIVE WORKSHOP in Las Vegas, Nevada (one day workshop, 8 hours)  or to register:  

 

TELE-PROGRAM – offered over the phone (4 weekly sessions, 2 hours per session)  or to register: