The Prepare/Enrich programme was developed in America in 1980 and is based on a solid research-based foundation.

The main component of the programme is a customized online survey that the couple each complete in approximately 30-45 minutes. The items you respond to are intended to help you identify the unique strengths and potential growth areas of your pre-marital/married/permanent relationship. 

Based on the assessment results, the therapist provides 4-8 sessions during which the couple is helped to discuss and understand their results and then to learn proven relationship skills. 

The programme will assist you in the following ways :

  • Identify the strengths and growth areas in your relationship
  • Explore your personality traits
  • Strengthen communication skills
  • Learn skills to enable you to resolve conflicts and reduce stress
  • Compare family backgrounds and how these impact on your relationship
  • Comfortably discuss financial issues
  • Establish personal, couple and family goals
  • Explore your sexual expectations
  • Identify the influence of family and friends
  • Managing leisure time and activities. 

The cost of the course material is R400 depending on the current rate of exchange plus medical rates for the sessions that follow.

The workshop is a skills based programme for children who either tend to be overtly passive and are often the target of bullies, or are overtly aggressive and may well become bullies.

In my work with children over the past 16 years as a counselling psychologist and play therapist, I have found that children who struggle in social interactions, tend to have little insight as to the ineffectiveness of their behaviour and consequently seem to be stuck in a cycle of poor interactions. They are also often unaware of their feelings and struggle to use this insight as a means by which to gauge how to handle social situations as well as consider the feelings of others.

The ability to be assertive is a life-long asset. Although it may be necessary and appropriate to be passive or aggressive at certain times in social situations, many children and adults would benefit from learning the skills of being assertive. This would ensure that their needs and individuality would not be as easily overlooked.

The workshop involves many age appropriate activities, games and role plays that promote the skills necessary to be assertive. The children are encouraged to  explore and verbalise their feelings, review the efficacy of different types of behaviour, experiment with different means of communication as well as reinforce their self esteem and sense of self worth.

There are two age groups, from 6-8 years (Grade 0-3) and from 9-11 years (Grade 4-7). The size of the group varies depending on response but the maximum is 10 children per course. The children will work in both small groups as well as a larger group during the sessions. In this way the children benefit from both individualised attention as well as exposure to many different types of behaviour which a large group enables.

The workshop runs in Highlands North for 6 consecutive weeks on a Tuesday afternoon or a Saturday morning. The cost of the course is R2000. This includes a parents’ information evening held before the workshop begins and individual feedback to each child’s parent given at the end of the workshop, either telephonically or if necessary at a separate meeting.