Hi, I’m Kurt, the heart behind Montooth Counseling! I want to take a moment to share a bit about myself and what drives me as a therapist and leader. My journey to becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in couples therapy began in an unlikely place: my church office in 2013. At the time, I was a fresh-out-of-school youth minister who had just proposed to my girlfriend (now wife). As I dreamed about marriage and the life ahead, I was struck by a sobering reality—I had never really seen a successful long-term marriage in my own family.

Looking at my family tree, I saw plenty of examples of what not to do in marriage, but I couldn’t find any positive role models. My curiosity and love of learning kicked in, and I began devouring books about marriage, starting with authors like Gary Chapman and Les and Leslie Parrott. What I discovered fascinated me. I fell in love with the idea of marriage and became a student of it. Learning how to build a strong, healthy marriage sparked a desire in me to share what I was learning. I wanted others to experience the beauty and joy I was discovering through marriage.

Now, don’t get me wrong—my marriage has been far from perfect. It wasn’t back then, and it isn’t now. We’ve faced challenges, made mistakes, and had our ups and downs, but it’s been one of the most profound blessings of my life. I knew I wanted to help others experience the same kind of connection and fulfillment that I had glimpsed—the deep, secure bond that comes from feeling emotionally safe, seen, and valued by your partner. In EFT terms, I wanted to help couples move from disconnection and distress to a place where they could understand each others emotional needs, respond to them with care and empathy, and create a lasting sense of security and closeness in their relationship. For me, it’s about helping people build the kind of attachment that fosters resilience, intimacy, and the confidence to face life’s challenges together.

Fast forward to 2018, and I was working as a full-time minister in Frankfort, KY, when I finally got the chance to pursue my dream of becoming a therapist. I enrolled in the Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Campbellsville University and graduated in 2020—in the middle of a pandemic, no less! My career started with a mix of working with couples and counseling kids at a local elementary school. Around the same time, my wife and I welcomed our first child, which launched me into another steep learning curve—parenting. There’s nothing quite like staring at a positive pregnancy test and realizing you know nothing about being a dad. But just like with marriage, I trusted I could learn and grow. Counseling kids and families became a way to deepen my skills and connect with people on their own journeys.

One of the most formative experiences in my career was earning my certification as an Emotionally Focused Therapist (EFT). EFT became my go-to model for couples therapy after I fell in love with it during grad school. The certification process through ICEEFT (the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy) was rigorous but transformative. It required me to submit videos of my sessions, analyze them with a supervisor, and continuously improve my skills. When I earned my certification in March 2024, I became the fifth ICEEFT-certified therapist in Kentucky—a professional milestone I’m incredibly proud of. That certificate on my wall isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s a testament to the clients, supervisors, and colleagues who shaped me along the way.

In 2024, I made a big personal and professional transition. After years of ministry (starting part-time in 2009 and full-time in 2012), I stepped away from church ministry to focus entirely on counseling. By then, Montooth Counseling had grown from just me to include two amazing associate therapists, Philip and Kelsey, as well as our rockstar practice manager, Candice. Since then, our little practice has expanded into something truly special—a place where people can find healing and hope.

As a therapist, my heart and passion are all about helping people grow into health, happiness, and wholeness. While my specialty is couples and family therapy, I’ve worked hard to build a practice that offers support for a wide range of needs, from trauma and addiction to anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues in kids. My goal is simple: when someone reaches out to Montooth Counseling, I want to connect them with a therapist who’s not just good, but an expert in exactly what they need. And while my name might be on the door, none of this would be possible without my incredible team. Taking care of my people so they can take care of others—that’s what it’s all about.

When I’m not working, my world revolves around my family—my wife and our four little boys, who are currently 6, 4, almost 2, and brand-new. We love exploring the great outdoors together, whether it’s camping, kayaking Kentucky’s rivers, or hiking scenic trails. Personally, I’m a big fan of endurance sports, especially road biking. In 2024, I even completed the Kentucky Century Challenge! Another passion of mine is gardening. Growing food with my boys is a way to stay active and teach them life lessons. My favorite crop? Strawberries. They’re easy to grow with a little care, but if you put in extra love and attention, they can be extraordinary—a metaphor for life and relationships, don’t you think?

If you’re ready to put a little more care into your relationships, I’d love to help. Whether you’re looking for couples therapy, support with sexual issues, or healing from ministry burnout, feel free to reach out! Let’s grow something beautiful together.