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This study assessed participant satisfaction with two interpretation formats and the effects of taking the RELATionship Evaluation (RELATE) on single young adults' premarital relationships. Thirty-nine engaged or seriously dating couples were assigned to one of three groups: (a) those who took RELATE and interpreted the results themselves, (b) those who took RELATE and participated in an interpretation session with a therapist, or (c) a control group. Results showed that taking RELATE with therapist assistance had a significant positive effect on perceived relationship satisfaction, commitment, opinions about marriage, feelings about marriage, and readiness for marriage. Positive effects also included increased awareness of strengths and challenges, improved couple communication, and the expectation of the prevention of future relationship problems. Taking RELATE without therapist assistance produced a small initial drop in relationship satisfaction followed by a marked improvement over time. Both genders approved of two interpretation formats-self-interpretation and therapist-assisted interpretation-with males slightly preferring therapist assistance. These results add to the literature on the usefulness of brief assessment techniques as effective interventions with premarital couples.

Premarital counselling: a focus for family therapyRobert F. Stahmann a Premarital counselling has not been identified as an area of practice in recent surveys of family therapists. Yet this preventive approach is an area that is receiving much attention worldwide as some governmental units are requiring premarital counselling as a means to reduce divorce and strengthen families. A descriptive overview of premarital counselling rationale, process, content and effectiveness is presented and the possible role of family therapists offering this service is discussed.

Reports data gathered from a national sample of clergy (N= 231) pertaining to their beliefs, practices, and training in premarital counseling (PMC). Notes that 94% of the clergy agreed that PMC should be required of all couples prior to marriage, and nearly 100% of the sample clergy provided PMC to couples they married. Points out that approximately 50% of clergy received no academic training in PMC, leaving 50% providing such services without having been trained in premarital counseling.B ecau se of the strong link between family and church, clergy are sought out as providers of premarital and marital counseling, and current literature acknowledges that the preponderance of premarital counseling (PMC) received by couples in the United States is provided by clergy.' While the fundamentals of clergy involvement in PMC have received some study," nothing specifically addressing clergy beliefs about PMC, or how they practice PMC, could be found in the literature. Little has been written about clergy training for PMC services. Thus, there is a need to learn more about the beliefs, practices, and training of the clergy who are offering PMC to the congregations they serve.The study reported here was an attempt to understand PMC services better by seeking direct clergy input. The study had as its three primary objectives gaining an understanding of pastoral beliefs about certain roles in PMC, describing clergy practices in marriage preparation (i.e., yearly num-"This research is part of the Marriage Preparation Research Project funded by The Center for Studies of the Family at Brigham Young University. Requests for reprints should be addressed to Robert F. Stahmann, Ph.D., 24-0 TLRB, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84-602.