Rick Slattery, MDiv, MAMFT

 As a therapist with Stronghold Counseling Services, Inc., I am enthusiastically anticipating the coming years. I have lived here and there in South Dakota for the last twenty years, but I am originally from Baltimore City, born and raised. My wife of 28 years and two of my three daughters are also Baltimore City natives (the youngest is the only South Dakotan, and, yes, she lets us know that).

I completed my Masters of Divinity from Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon in 2001 and served in ministry from then until 2018. In 2018, I shifted back to counseling, sensing a new direction from God for my life. I just graduated from Kairos University in August of 2022 with a Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy (which pairs well with my bachelor’s degree in Clinical and Experimental Psychology back in 1990).

I am currently working toward my licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy in the State of South Dakota. My professional practice is centered on Contextual Therapy. This approach focuses on the importance of relationships, justice and forgiveness for discovering a fullness of hope in the personhood of each individual within their family.

I provide family, couples, individual and play therapy services. I have provided services to those struggling with substance issues, while also being trained to come alongside people struggling with anxiety, depression, family or origin, anger management, abuse issues, substance issues, premarital and disruptive marriage issues, ADHD, troubled youth and life skills.

The integration of faith and psychology to best come alongside of others who can pursue there best selves is my passion.  People’s stories, connections, voice and hope are focal points of my practice.

With past involvement as a senior and associate pastor, police chaplain, university adjunct professor, free clinic volunteer/leader and therapist with concentrations in urban areas, as well as Native American communities, I am excited to offer myself as not just a therapist, but a person to help this south eastern region of South Dakota who are my family and my home.