Why We Are Different:

Each of our therapists approach their work with clients from a systemic (or “relational”) perspective. Rooted was founded by two Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) in February 2017. Marriage and Family Therapy is the “root” of systemic (relational) therapy in the mental health field. Before the field of Marriage and Family Therapy developed in the middle of the 20th Century, mental health therapy as taught and practiced was largely two-dimensional (and primarily relied on behavioral changes or insight-based skills to enact change). The introduction of systems theory through the field of Marriage and Family Therapy added a third dimension, focusing on and utilizing the process, context, and interactions between and among people. Systemic or relational therapy is now being integrated into the mental health field around the world, and systems theory and systems thinking is helping to solve many of our local and global society’s most pressing issues.

As Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) and the owners of Rooted Relational Therapy, Doug and Morgan Richard ensure that each of our therapists utilize these three-dimensional systemic perspectives when working with you. Our therapists understand you are a part of many different systems and relationships that impact your well-being and influence who you are.  So whether you come to therapy as an individual, couple, or family, we seek to see and understand you in the context of your environment and relationships. Based on your preferences, we will also treat you holistically, focusing on your mental, emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual health as well.  We collaborate with you to help you reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, decrease conflict, improve communication, deepen intimacy, and reach any other goals you may have. 

Learn even more about relational (systemic) therapy by watching this short video.

Meet Our Therapists

Our owners are Morgan and Doug Richard (and yes, they’re married!). Morgan and Doug are empathic, knowledgeable, and attentive therapists with a long record of success working with people of all ages to improve relationships and reach their goals. Both are Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists with Master of Arts Degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Graduate School of Marriage and Family Studies at Evangelical Seminary in Myerstown, Pennsylvania.  Morgan and Doug completed their clinical training hours at The Marriage & Family Center in Lititz, PA.

Doug and Morgan met in 2005, and married in 2012. Both have been stretched and grown through many hardships and difficult experiences, individually, and together. Their experiences and systemic training help them train better therapists and offer systemic empathy to everyone, helping others survive and thrive through difficult circumstances as well. When Morgan and Doug are not working, they enjoy teaching, supervising, training therapists, learning new things, reading articles and books, investing time with friends and family, and spending time outdoors biking, kayaking, and backpacking.  They also love the beach and traveling, particularly exploring new places together.

Doug Richard, MA, LMFT, Owner & CEO/CVO, Co-Clinical Director, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, & ICEEFT Certified Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist

(Please note: Doug or Doug and Morgan currently have openings for three-day couple intensives in February 2025 and beyond, click here for more information!)

Systems-Thinking Advocate, Futurist, Consultant. Professional Member and Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), Pennsylvania Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (PAMFT), and Lifetime Member of the ICEEFT (International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy) as well as an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and ICEEFT Certified Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist.

Doug is an experienced Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), knowledgeable in many different theories and approaches to therapy, thinking, and “being.” In addition to seeing clients, Doug is our Chief Visionary Officer, guiding our “learning organization” as we grow and adapt to an ever-changing world. He utilizes transcontextual and systems thinking to integrate and synthesize more than 100 theories from Developmental and Transpersonal Psychology, Personality Typing Theories, Family Systems, Spirituality, Cybernetics, and more in order to help people and organizations rethink, recover, and reorganize themselves in healthier ways.

Doug is a systems-geek (can you tell?), Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Certified Administrator, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, having earned his M.A. (Master of Arts) in Marriage & Family Therapy from the Graduate School of Marriage and Family Studies at Evangelical Seminary (now part of Kairos University) in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. He maintains several professional designations and memberships, provides supervision to clinicians working towards licensure, and additionally works alongside several local and regional organizations, communities, and governments. He is also part of several collectives of people utilizing systems-thinking to bridge divides, reduce the systemic cycle of poverty, revitalize rural and small-town communities, and plant seeds for re-thinking and re-imagining patterns and belief systems that no longer serve people well.

Besides sitting during his work as a therapist, Doug is constantly on the move, interacting with people and helping to facilitate and encourage successful organizations. His experience ranges from non-profit boards, pastoring and educating (across the life span) to lifeguarding, Wilderness First Responder-ing and school bus driving. Doug and Morgan even owned and operated a tie-dye business for several years. In addition to his LMFT license and master’s degree, Doug previously earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Christian Ministries from Messiah University (then Messiah College) before working as an Associate Pastor in Harrisburg, PA for several years. He is currently on the Executive Board of On Earth Peace, a non-profit whose mission is to develop and walk with leaders and communities who work for justice and peace, where he serves as the Chair of the Board Governance and Development Committee.

At Rooted, Doug is our CEO/CVO, Co-Clinical Director, and our foremost couples therapy expert, supervising and training our therapists and working with many of our couples to help them improve communication, heal from past wounds, and achieve healthier relationships. Doug challenges all of his clients to dream big, rethink assumptions, and succeed beyond expectations (and based on feedback, most couples who work with Doug to improve their relationship leave therapy with a more healthy, satisfying, and emotionally connected relationship than they EVER had before). Clients achieve this high level of success through Doug’s integral self, as well as his integration of the two most researched and validated forms of couple therapy: Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and the Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

Doug also strives to make therapy fun, creatively utilizing humor and occasionally “wild” expressions to facilitate the specific kind of environment for each couple and person to learn, grow, heal, and connect. Many couples have remarked that therapy with Doug is their favorite hour (or 80-90 minutes) of the week. Though sessions can feel challenging or even intense at times, hundreds of couples have exceeded their goals by showing up, doing the work, and trusting the process.

Morgan Richard, MA, LMFT, Owner, Clinical Director, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, & ICEEFT Certified Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist.

(Please note: Doug and Morgan currently have openings for three-day couple intensives in February 2025 and beyond, click here for more information!)

Like Doug, Morgan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MBTI Certified Administrator, Supervisor of interns and clinicians working toward licensure, and earned her M.A. (Master of Arts) in Marriage & Family Therapy from the Graduate School of Marriage and Family Studies at Evangelical Seminary (now part of Kairos University) in Myerstown, PA.

Morgan is an ICEEFT Certified Emotionally Focused Couple Therapist and a Lifetime Member of ICEEFT (International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy) as well as an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, and a Professional Member and Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), Pennsylvania Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (PAMFT). Morgan has completed many additional certifications. She also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Messiah University (then Messiah College). Prior to becoming a therapist, Morgan spent several years in the mental health field working with individuals and families in Dauphin and Lebanon Counties, including children and adolescents at Philhaven (now WellSpan Philhaven) and Youth Advocate Programs.

As the Lead Clinical Director and Clinical Supervisor at Rooted, Morgan ensures our mental health and wellness professionals approach treatment from a systemic perspective. She also helps women of all ages heal, grow, and achieve thriving relationships and fulfilling lives. Morgan also works with couples, families, and children/teens. When working with younger clients (and occasionally older ones too!), Morgan utilizes highly effective forms of play therapy, including sandtray therapy.

Morgan helps her clients do a lot of deep internal work, and she also specializes in sex therapy, specifically helping many women and couples navigate treatment and find healing from the devastation of pelvic/sexual pain. Most of all, Morgan enjoys helping her clients move from brokenness to wholeness, and develop confidence in who they truly are!

Doug and Morgan are honored to lead the best team of mental health professionals in Pennsylvania, and are excited to introduce more of our team to you soon. Detailed information about the rest of our team will be available on our new website, launching soon!

Our providers have additional specialties to offer you.  To learn more about some of the issues we treat, please click here.

If you are ready to take the next step on your journey toward healing, give us a call at 570-884-4662 x1 or fill out this easy form and one of our Intake Coordinators will call you between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday.