Prepare/Enrich for Couples with ADHD

All couples navigate the balance between taking care of themselves and caring for their partner; however, that balance can be more difficult to find with ADHD in the mix. While all couples can benefit from premarital counseling using Prepare/Enrich, it provides especially useful information for couples where one or both partners have ADHD, aiding in improving communication challenges, differences in organization and time management, emotional regulation, and reducing the potential for misunderstandings and conflicts.

Although Prepare/Enrich is an assessment, it is not a test. There is no “right” or “wrong” answer. It is not designed to tell you whether your relationship will succeed or fail. Instead, it evaluates relationships in terms of their strengths and potential areas for growth.

Personality Scales

Prepare/Enrich incorporates scales to help couples better understand each other’s personalities using SCOPE (Social, Change, Organized, Pleasing, Emotionally Steady). Often, those with ADHD are extroverted, resilient, and care deeply for those around them. However, some elements of change, organization, and emotional steadiness can be difficult for those navigating ADHD. Prepare/Enrich provides the base to explore these personality differences so that couples can focus on strengths and work together to create strategies for areas of growth.

Relationship Dynamics

Using the insight gained from taking a closer look into each person’s personality, we can better understand how these factors show up in the relationship and impact assertiveness, self-confidence, avoidance, and partner dominance. Those with ADHD can often struggle with self-confidence and assertiveness, resulting in a higher level of avoidance. In turn, their partner may be more assertive and dominating. Both partners have good intentions of balancing the relationship, and these are logical responses, but they may benefit more from going about it in a different way. This information allows us to become aware of patterns and dynamics in the relationship and establish a framework for finding balance.

Personal Stress Profile

The Prepare/Enrich assessment also contains measures to take a closer look at what stressors each partner is facing. This can be especially useful for couples with ADHD as it increases awareness for both partners and allows for further exploration as a team. For example, discussing the importance of routines and systems in managing household tasks and responsibilities.

Couple and Family Maps

The Couple and Family Maps are a visual representation of the flexibility and closeness that each partner feels within their relationship and in their family of origin. Connection and the ability to adjust provide additional opportunities to find balance within the relationship. This also provides a great opportunity for couples to decide what relationship patterns from their families they want to bring into their marriage or reevaluate what they may want to do differently.

Through Prepare/Enrich, couples with ADHD can explore strength and growth areas, strengthen communication skills, identify and manage stressors, better resolve conflicts, develop a more balanced relationship, understand personality differences, and maximize teamwork. 

Author Photo
About Brooke | View Profile

Brooke Sanders is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in anxiety, depression, and relationship issues, ADHD, and maternal mental health. She helps teens and adults improve their relationships with themselves and others by fostering understanding, compassion, and acceptance.

We offer in-person and virtual services – contact us today to learn more!

Wellness Blog | #learnwithhwp

Thoughtful Ways to Break Toxic Habits

Thoughtful Ways to Break Toxic Habits

It’s good to see you here. You’ve read the blogs, tips, and posts with catchy ideas that make you think about how to break the toxic patterns holding you back. You’re

Author Photo
About Gleyce | View Profile

Gleyce Almeida-Farrell is a psychotherapist and the founder of Holistic Wellness Practice in Alpharetta, GA. She specializes in helping adults manage stress and overcome symptoms of anxiety utilizing a holistic and integrative approach to mental wellness.

We offer in-person and virtual services – contact us today to learn more!

Healing from Heartbreak: An Attachment-Based Guide to Feeling, Surviving, and Thriving

Healing from Heartbreak: An Attachment-Based Guide to Feeling, Surviving, and Thriving

As humans, one of the most complex emotional injuries we can sustain is heartbreak. Whether it’s the downfall of a marriage, the collapse of a romantic relationship you thought would

Author Photo
About Brooke | View Profile

Brooke is a psychotherapist who specializes in helping clients dealing with difficult life transitions, symptoms of anxiety or depression, and LGBTQ+-related issues. She practices a collective and modern approach to mental health counseling, which is rooted in genuineness and vulnerability.

We offer in-person and virtual services – contact us today to learn more!

Parenting a Child with ADHD: Challenges, Insights, and Lessons (Part 1)

Parenting a Child with ADHD: Challenges, Insights, and Lessons (Part 1)

What does ADHD look like on the “day to day”?This blog isn’t about defining ADHD with clusters of symptoms, diagnoses, or debates over medications. If you’re interested in the biological

We offer in-person and virtual services – contact us today to learn more!

    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    Pin