Steve and Rajan Trafton

Steve and Rajan Trafton are the owners and operators of the Hideaway Experience, which began ministering to couples in 2006. With over 25 years of a healthy, happy marriage, the Traftons have a deep passion for seeing God redeem and transform marriages. They currently serve on the board of directors for MarriageToday, a nationally known and broadcasted marriage ministry and television program hosted by Jimmy and Karen Evans. 

Steve and Rajan currently live in Amarillo, Texas and have two children Jet and Chance and a son-in-law, Tanner Hargrove.

Terry Hargrave, Ph.D

Terry Hargrave, Ph.D. is nationally recognized for his pioneering work with intergenerational families.  Dr. Hargrave has authored numerous professional articles and eleven books including Five Days to a New Marriage and The Essential Humility of Marriage:  Honoring the Third Identity in Couple Therapy.  

Dr. Hargrave has presented nationally and internationally on the concepts and processes of family and marriage restoration, aging and is known for his clear and entertaining presentations. His work has been featured in several national magazines and newspapers, as well as ABC News 20/20, Good Morning America and CBS Early Morning. He has been selected as a national conference plenary speaker and as a Master's Series Therapist by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

He is a Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California and is a licensed MFT in both Texas and California.  He and his wife Sharon have two children, Halley Anne and Peter. 

Sharon Hargrave, MFT

Sharon Hargrave is the Executive Director for the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in both California and Texas. In her secondary role as Director and Founder of Strong Marriages/Successful Ministries at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena California she also teaches as an adjunct instructor for the Marriage and Family Therapy Department. Sharon loves her work with couples and individuals in ministry and believes strongly that what we learn about ourselves in our closest relationships transforms who we are and how we interact with others in the work place, as parents, as ministers, in our families or any other relational context.

 Sharon travels with her husband and speaks nationally and internationally on issues pertaining to couples in ministry, marriage, inter-generational relationships, parenting and the Restoration Therapy model. She has written a group leader guide for Strong Marriages/Successful Ministries and for the Five Days to a New Marriage material. 

 Sharon is also employed by The Hideaway Experience located in Texas and works with couples in crisis using the marriage intensive model. Before moving to California, Sharon was in private practice for over 18 years. She specializes in working with couples and inter-generational issues. She is married and has two adult children.

Virginia Monk, LPC

Virginia (Ginny) Monk is a graduate of West Texas A&M University with a B.A. in Mass Communications. She also earned a master's degree in counseling, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. Ginny has been in private practice with the Amarillo Family Institute for over ten years and specializes in marital and group therapy. She has been leading marriage intensives for over four years.She frequently speaks at conferences, retreats, and other programs. Ginny is passionate in sharing how God can use pain to provide hope and the truth of his faithfulness. She and her husband, Tim, share a testimony of their 25-year marriage. 

Wib Newton, Ph.D, LPC, MFT

Wib Newton has been in full-time ministry since 1976 and a therapist since 1981. He received an undergraduate degree from West Virginia University (communications), a Master’s in Religion from Harding University (counseling) and a Ph.D. in Clinical Christian Counseling from Cornerstone University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Texas. He is also a charter member of the American Association of Christian Therapists and a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor. He has received specialized training in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, sexual addictions, and time/life management. Wib is the founder and director of New Hope Counseling & Resources. Through this effort his is compiling the area's Christ-focused resources and making them available on www.newhoperesources.com. Helping marriages become stronger has been a passion of his throughout his professional career. He and his wife, Janice, have been married since 1976 and have raised two sons, Jared and Colton.

Cathy Burns, LPC

Cathy Burns, LPC Cathy Burns is a graduate of the University of Texas Medical Branch with a B.S. degree in Health Care Science. She trained as a Physician Assistant and earned her master’s degree in counseling from West Texas A&M University. Cathy is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is in private practice with Amarillo Family Institute. Her areas of special counseling interest include clients who are living with a chronic illness, past sexual abuse, depression and marital therapy. Cathy and her husband, Russell, married in 1975 and have three adult married children. They have resided in Amarillo, Texas, for 16 years.

Carey Skinner, Ph.D., LPC

Dr. Carey Skinner, earned a doctorate in Pastoral Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as well as a Master of Arts in Counseling from Amber University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and currently serves as Associate Pastor/Minister of Adults at Trinity Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas. Carey has over 10 years of experience as a counselor, as well as a background in crisis ministry from his service as a hospital chaplain. He specializes in couples therapy and men’s issues. He and his wife, Debbie, an artist and women’s ministry speaker, have been married since 1982. They are the parents of one daughter, Hannah, a college student.

Todd Sandel

Todd Sandel received his Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary School of Psychology in addition to a Masters degree in Christian Leadership also from Fuller. He currently serves as the Executive Director of LifeGate, a non-profit psychology group practice in Atlanta, GA.  As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Todd has been empowering couples for the past 7 years helping them learn to live well, love well, and lead well as they negotiate the challenging stages of married life. 

Additionally, Todd serves as a lead marriage therapist for The Hideaway Experience.  Prior to his role at LifeGate, Todd served 13 years in youth and young adult ministry in Texas and California. 

Together, Todd and his wife Beverly also serve as adjunct faculty for Winshape Marriage Retreat (a non-profit ministry of Chick-fil-A) leading marriage conferences. Todd and Beverly have been blessed with four adorable young children. When they aren't playing with their kids, Todd and Beverly enjoy adventure trips to ski towns in the Rockies and kayak trips to the Pacific Northwest.

Sherry L. Randolph, LPC

Sherry is a graduate of West Texas A&M University with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and a master's degree in professional counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Amarillo Family Institute, Inc. working with individuals, couples, and families. Sherry has a particular interest in working with marriages, family problems, and substance abuse issues. She and her husband, Dean, are the parents of a son, Jett.

Marty Loberg, LPC, M.Div

Marty Loberg received a Master's of Arts degree in Counseling from West Texas A&M University, a Master's of Divinity degree from Austin Theological Seminary, and is currently completing a Doctor of Ministry degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Denver Theological Seminary. As an LPC, he is currently working for the Counseling and Consulting offices of Tobin, Benjamin, & Marotta in Edmond, OK in the areas of marriage, men's sexual integrity, family, and church conflict related issues. Marty brings a lifetime of ministry experience growing up as a pastor's kid and over 25 years of youth, college, and pastoral ministry. 

Marty lives with his wife and four children in Oklahoma and loves outdoor recreational sports (an avid backpacker, has climbed most of the "fourteeners" in CO, rafted the Grand Canyon twice, and aspires to climb to Mt. Everest base camp).

Rhett Smith

Rhett Smith received his MDiv and MSMFT from Fuller Theological Seminary, and currently works as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice at Auxano Counseling in Plano, TX. Rhett is also a regular guest speaker at churches, talking on a variety of topics ranging from marriage, parenting, adolescents, emerging adulthood, anxiety, social media and technology.

Prior to his work as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Rhett spent the previous 10 years as a pastor working with college students on university campuses and in church ministry. Growing up in a pastor's home and working in ministry has given Rhett a passion for working with families within the church, and especially with pastors and their families. Rhett was a contributing author to the book "The New Media Frontier" and the book "Outspoken". His first book, The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good? is being published by Moody in March of 2012. In the book Rhett explores the importance of seeing our anxiety as a catalyst for growth in our lives.

Rhett and his wife Heather live in Frisco, TX with their two children. In his free-time Rhett enjoys running, writing and hanging out with his family.

Ryan Jackson, MS, LAMFT

EDUCATION
M.S. Marriage & Family Therapy, San Diego State University B.A. Psychology, Point Loma Nazarene University 

LICENSE
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, State of Georgia 

WORK EXPERIENCE
Staff Therapist, LifeGate Counseling Center, Atlanta, GA, 2011-Present
Staff Therapist, Life Spring Center, San Diego, CA, 2008-2011
Counseling Intern, San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine, San Diego, CA, 2008-2009
Marriage & Family Therapy Trainee, Center for Community Counseling, San Diego, CA, 2007-2008

Becky Nguyen, MS, LMFT

EDUCATION
M.S. - Marriage & Family Therapy, Auburn University, 2000
B.S. - Human Development & Family Studies, Auburn University, 1997 

LICENSE
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, State of Georgia 

WORK EXPERIENCE
Staff Counselor, LifeGate Counseling Center, Atlanta GA, 2007-present
Children's Services Coordinator, Palouse River Counseling, Pullman WA, 2003-2006
Child, Adolescent & Family Counselor, Palouse River Counseling, 2000-2006
Child, Adolescent & Family Counselor Intern, East Alabama Mental Health Center, Opelika AL, 1998-1999