The Experience
Our ministry was built upon the scripture Psalms 27:5, “For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock.” Is your marriage in a place of trouble? Information and marriage tips may not be enough. We believe that information alone doesn’t change people. An experience changes people. This experience will change your marriage. Only God can bring about everlasting heart change. But the great news is that He wants us to participate alongside Him. Our role is very intentional, to co-labor with God while He does the heart work, and The Hideaway provides the four core foundational pillars to create the experience.
Staff
Therapists using the Restoration Therapy Model give couples the tools and techniques they need to help them transform long-standing habits and patterns that are detrimental to their relationships.
Steve and Rajan Trafton own and operate the Hideaway Experience near Amarillo, Texas, which began ministering to couples in 2006. With more than 29 years of marriage behind them, the Traftons have a deep passion for seeing God redeem and transform others’ marriages. They currently serve on the board of directors for Marriage Today, the international marriage ministry and television program hosted by Jimmy and Karen Evans. Steve and Rajan live in Amarillo, Texas, and have two grown, married children.
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 Restoration Therapy: Understanding and Guiding Healing in Marriage and Family Therapy (co-authored with Franz Pfitzer) 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 president and in practice at Amarillo Family Institute, Inc.
Sharon Hargrave is the Executive Director and Founder of MarriageStrong at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, where she teaches as affiliate faculty in the Marriage and Family Therapy Department. Sharon loves her work with couples and individuals in leadership and believes strongly that what we learn about ourselves in our closest relationships transforms who and how we are as employees, leaders, parents, or within any other relational context.
As the Executive Director for the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Sharon speaks nationally and internationally on issues pertaining to couples in ministry, marriage, intergenerational relationships, parenting, and the Restoration Therapy model. She has written a group leader guide for MarriageStrong and for the Five Days to a New Marriage material.
Sharon is also employed by The Hideaway Experience in Amarillo, Texas, working 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 intergenerational issues. She is married and has two adult children.
Virginia (Ginny) is a senior partner for The Counseling Offices at Amarillo Family Institute in Amarillo, Texas. She earned a B.A. in Mass Communications and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from West Texas A&M University. Ginny is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and a Board Approved Supervisor. She has been in private practice as a therapist since 1999 and specializes in marital and group therapy. Ginny is passionate about helping hurting people and she is devoted to walking with others as they grow in truth of identity and purpose.
Ginny has been leading Marriage Intensives at the Hideaway Experience in Texas since 2006, working with couples in crisis using the Restoration Therapy Marriage Intensive Model. As one of the Founders of Restoration Therapy she actively pursues those principles in her practice. In 2013 Ginny developed “ Ultimate Betrayal, Ultimate Success,” a Restoration treatment program for therapists and their clients in recovery from affairs . She frequently speaks at conferences and workshops for clinicians as well as retreats and staffing for churches and other organizations.
Ginny is a charter member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and past President and current member of the Amarillo Area Association of Mental Health Professionals, as well as other various national and state organizations. She and her husband are a blended family with two adult married children.
Wib Newton is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. He is an acting Supervisor for both organizations. He is a National Certified Counselor and Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapists. Wib is a co-founder of Restoration Therapy and is an active therapist at the Hideaway Experience marriage intensive program.
He is the author of “Great Start”, a premarital training that is being used in the Texas healthy marriage initiative,”Twogether in Texas”, and the Family Wellness fatherhood curriculum, “Dad’s for Life”. He assists pastors and their spouses with his “Marriage, Ministry and Me” workshop. Wib is considered one of the most diversely trained and experienced therapists in the Amarillo area specializing in marriage, trauma and addiction.
Wib was a minister for 31 years before focusing solely on his private practice. He and his wife, Janice, have been married since 1976 and have two adult sons, Jared and Colton.
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.
Cathy Burns is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and a Texas Board Approved Supervisor. She earned a B.S. in Health Care Science at the University of Texas Medical Branch and has practiced as a Physician’s Assistant. She has a Master’s degree in Counseling from West Texas A&M University. She has been trained in EMDR for trauma, MarriageStrong for ministry couples, Restoration Therapy, Prepare Enrich and Great Start. She has been in private practice as a therapist since 2003 and works with individuals, couples, adolescents, families, and groups. She is an adjunct faculty member of Denver Seminary, teaching at a satellite campus in Amarillo Texas. She specializes in marriage, chronic illness support, trauma, ministry support and spiritual formation. Cathy also offers counseling for eating disorders, sexual abuse, women’s issues and mood regulation.
Cathy has been co-leading Marriage Intensives at the Hideaway Experience since inception in 2006, working with couples in distress and crisis with highly successful treatment using Restoration Therapy. She is one of the Founders of Restoration Therapy and utilizes application of this therapy in all of her specialties.
Memberships: American Association of Christian Counselors, Texas Counseling Association, American Counseling Association, Association for Marriage and Family Therapy., Amarillo Area Association for Mental Health Professionals.
Hobbies: Loving dogs, gardening and hiking. She has been married to Russell Burns since 1975 and has three adult married children.
You may contact Cathy at (806) 350-5867 for further information and to make an appointment with her or visit her website at CathyTBurns.com.
Carey earned a Master of Arts in Counseling from Amber University as well as a doctorate in Pastoral Ministry from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and full-time counselor in private practice at the Counseling Offices at Amarillo Family Institute. Carey has over 18 years of counseling experience, as well as a background in crisis ministry from his service as a hospital chaplain and minister. He specializes in marriage therapy and men’s issues.
He and his wife, Debbie, an artist and women’s ministry speaker, have been married over 30 years. They are the parents of one daughter, Hannah, who is married and lives with her husband in Waco, TX.
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).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).
Tanner earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from West Texas A&M University and a Master’s Degree in Marital and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Ca. He currently works as a private practice therapist with the offices of Amarillo Family Institute and part-time adjunct instructor in the school of psychology @ Amarillo College.
Currently he holds licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Texas. Tanner works with couples, adolescents and families, as well as emerging adults adults. He specializes in marriage, adolescents (10-17) and families, and emerging adults.
Tanner is a therapist with the Hideaway Experience Intensives, working with couples in distress and crisis seeing highly successful treatment using Restoration Therapy. He holds Level II certification in Restoration Therapy and actively pursues those principles in his practice.
Outside of therapy his interests include music, outdoor long distance running, reading, and good meals with good friends and family. His marriage and his children are his life’s sustaining force.
Kristi Murphey is a licensed professional counselor in Amarillo, Texas. She is an individual, marital, and family therapist who specializes in identity and self-worth issues, affair recovery, and blended families. She has extensive experience working with survivors of suicide, the grief process, and forgiveness issues. She also has experience in working with adolescents and co-leading marriage intensives at the Hideaway Experience in Amarillo. Kristi is certified in Restoration Therapy and assists individuals and couples to gain clear insight and perspective regarding their identities, the root of issues, and unhealthy coping patterns; and provides intervention techniques to help individuals and couples move into responsible change and relationship.
Kristi earned a B.S. in Psychology from Texas A&M University in 1992 and a M.A. in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in 2011. She is a member of the Amarillo Area Association of Mental Health Professionals and the American Association of Christian Counselors. Kristi enjoys quality time with her family, Bible study, and participating in various ministries at her church and in the community. Kristi is married to Alan and has two children, Caitlin and Cooper.
She can be contacted at (806) 350-5866 or kristimurpheylpc@gmail.comfor additional information or to schedule an appointment.
Restoration Therapy Model
Are you looking to transform your marriage? Some couples are in a crisis situation and don’t know where to turn. Some couples don’t have the time to spend months, or even years, working through issues in a weekly counseling session. If this sounds like you, The Hideaway’s four-day Marriage Intensive program could be right for you.
Typical marriage counseling sessions are crammed into one hour a week. There is little time to delve into the deeper issues troubling a broken marriage in an environment free from everyday distractions. At The Hideaway, licensed therapists lead focused and purposeful sessions designed to help you identify the root issues that are causing you and your spouse to fight. Once we help you identify your deeper issues, we help you move towards the place God designed for you. You learn how to have healthy relationships, not only with your spouse, but also with friends, family, and co-workers. The therapy you receive during these four uninterrupted days can become a turning point in marriages that once felt beyond hope.
At The Hideaway, two licensed therapists conduct couples therapy in a group setting that helps bring your situation into perspective, breakdown communication obstacles, uncover hidden barriers, move participants quickly to core issues, and provide couples with the tools they need to transform their relationship. Our carefully designed approach results in initial breakthroughs and long-term change. Participants in the program find themselves on the path to a new marriage equipped with the tools they need to stay the course.
We understand that when couples are going through a difficult period in their marriage, a group setting may seem intimidating. While many couples come to an intensive anxious or skeptical of the group format, the number one comment from couples is that it was the power of the group that brought them progress.
While intensives involve six to eight hours of therapy each day, we build in free time, privacy, and one-on-one spouse interaction during your stay at The Hideaway.