Richard Shurtz is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) with over twenty-four years of professional experience in this fascinating and all encompassing field of practice. Rick’s expertise is focused in the areas of adolescent development, marital therapy, family systems, and individual growth.

His vast experience includes parenting skills training for “Concept 7,” one of the largest Christian foster parenting agencies in California, as well as “Pre-Marital Workshops” for several organizations and churches, and he has been affiliated with the Minirth-Meyer “New Life Clinics,” as a therapist for their inpatient hospital programs.

Rick has also worked as “Director of Counseling Services” for two churches. In this capacity, he worked as both, an on-staff therapist, as well as the “Developer” of various family education programs incorporating such areas as: couples communication, parenting skills, financial planning, crisis intervention, along with adolescent and child development.

He also headed up the efforts to procure, develop, and implement a community crisis intervention hotline, and as a licensed minister, has provided pulpit support as well.

Besides working with individuals, couples and families, Rick assists local pastors in meeting their needs, by connecting them with available community resources and referrals

 Having grown up in the mission fields of Brazil and Mexico, he has a heart for missions work and still assists missionary organizations in pastor training and evangelistic outreach in both Africa and Brazil. He is tri-lingual, being fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

As a long distance cyclist and outdoorsman, he has a passion for adventure. Currently, he and his wife, Karen, are developing a program for couples to enhance their relationship skills by taking them to the great outdoors and using various activities and adventures as a catalyst for change and personal growth.

 Rick has a Bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University and a Master's degree from Georgia State University.