Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has made new appointments to the Texas State Board of Marriage and Family Therapists. James Castro and William Price have been appointed, and Russell "Russ" Bartee, Ph.D., has been reappointed to the board. Their terms will expire on February 1, 2031. The board is responsible for licensing and regulating marriage and family therapists in Texas.

James Castro, from Bergheim, works as a counselor and consultant at Conscious Health and Wellbeing. He is active in the Association for Mental Health Professionals and the Texas Alliance of Child Family Services. Castro holds a Bachelor of Science from Franciscan University and a Master of Arts from St. Mary's University.

William Price, based in Houston, serves as vice president of corporate development at Cornerstone Building Brands. He is involved with CHARM Prison Ministry as a board member and finance committee chairman. Price is also a member of Houston's First Baptist Church. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Russell "Russ" Bartee, Ph.D., from Fort Worth, is a self-employed psychotherapist and an associate professor in Texas Wesleyan University's graduate counseling program. He participates in the Fort Worth Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, is a clinical fellow with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and a clinical member of the American Counseling Association. Bartee is also an elder at the Western Hills Church of Christ. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medical Science from Oklahoma Christian University, a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of North Texas, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Family Therapy from Texas Women's University.

These appointments are pending confirmation by the Senate.