Are you living together and wondering if you can go the distance?
Then consider 'prepare', a way of getting ready for marriage that will help both you and your partner discover and discuss areas of strength and weakness.
'Prepare' is an internationally recognised marriage preparation program. You can read more on the prepare-enrich website.
Prepare works like this:
Session 1: Introductions - This is where our trained facilitator meets with you, hears some of your story and explains what �prepare is about and how it works. It gives you a chance to ask questions and decide if you wish to proceed.
Session 2: The Questionnaire - This is a comprehensive analysis of how you and your partner relate. It normally takes about an hour to complete and there would be a short opportunity for reflection at the end of the session. The questionnaire is not intrusive, but it does ask significant questions.
Session 3: The Feedback - Your questionnaire responses are sent off to a computer processing centre where you are given scores on your level of shared understanding in different areas eg. Communication, conflict resolution. You then meet with your facilitator to overview the results and to decide where you wish to go from there.
Session 4+: Discussion - In the sessions that follow your facilitator will meet with you to help you explore and discuss areas of concern that have been highlighted by the questionnaire. These sessions allow you and your partner to discuss issues that arise with a facilitator and to work through strategies for managing areas of concern. This usually takes between 3-5 meetings. If issues are raised that fit more in the �counselling area than the marriage preparation field then the facilitator will give you the option of seeing a professional counsellor with the skills and training to deal with the issue.
The areas covered in a Prepare Analysis include:
A. Significant Issues for Couples:
* Communication
* Conflict Resolution
* Personality Issues
* Financial Management
* Marital Leisure Activities
* Sexual Expectations
* Children and Parenting
* Family and Friends
* Realistic Expectations
* Idealistic Distortions
* Role Relationship
* Spiritual Beliefs
D: Closeness and Flexibility of Couple Relationship/Marriage
Prepare Options:
* PREPARE - for premarital couples
* PREPARE-CC - for cohabiting premarital couples
* PREPARE-MC - for premarital couples with children
* ENRICH - for married couples
* MATE - for couples over the age of 50
In Australia, your answer sheets and scoring fee (A$44.00 includes GST) are sent to the Prepare-Enrich office in Sydney. The answer sheets are scanned and scored and the results are summarised in a 15-page Computer Report that is sent to the Administrator together with other resources associated with the program. The scoring service operates on a daily basis in the working week and returns are normally completed on the same day they are received by the office. The material is coded and no names are attached to the answer sheets or the report.
Interested?
If you would like to explore how Prepare may work for you then either call Andrew on 0400044236 or email hamo@upstream.org.au and we can set up an introductory meeting.
Costs
We offer Prepare as a service to the Brighton community at the admin cost only ($44.00). If you are from outside Brighton then the cost would be admin plus between $40.00 and $100.00 per session depending on your own financial circumstances.
