Marriage Coach · Educator · Minister
Dick Ivey, PhD
Dick Ivey is a Christian marriage educator, coach, and minister with a PhD in Educational Psychology. Based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, he and his wife Barb have spent 28+ years teaching couples how to build marriages that last.
Who is Dick Ivey?
Dick Ivey is the founder of 24k Gold Marriage, a Christian marriage coaching and education ministry serving couples in Dallas, Fort Worth, and across the United States. He works alongside his wife Barb Ivey, with whom he has built a successful blended family since 1988. Together they coach couples at every stage of marriage — from premarital through restoration after crisis.
Education and Credentials
- PhD in Educational Psychology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas
- M.A. in Religious Education
- B.A.
- Ordained minister with decades of pastoral experience
- Adjunct professor and lecturer on marriage and family
Published Books
Dick is the author of multiple books on marriage and family life, written from both his academic background and his personal experience navigating divorce, remarriage, and blended-family life.
- "My Marriage was Lousy and My Divorce Ain't So Hot!" — A candid look at how marriages fail and how to do better the second time.
- "Boiling the Frog (Crises in the American First Family)" — How small unaddressed issues turn into marriage crises.
- "24k Gold Weddings and Styrofoam Marriages" (forthcoming) — Why couples invest more in the wedding day than the marriage that follows.
Areas of Expertise
- Christian marriage coaching and mentoring
- Marriage education for premarital, newly married, and long-married couples
- Blended family dynamics and remarriage
- Marriage restoration after crisis
- Church marriage ministry consulting and curriculum design
- Pastor and ministry leader marriage support
Approach
Dick's coaching philosophy is summarized in one phrase: "Mend it, don't end it." He focuses on what makes marriages thrive rather than just what went wrong. Couples leave his coaching with practical, repeatable skills — not just insight. His method blends biblical foundation with research-backed relationship education, drawing from his PhD work in educational psychology.
Where Dick Coaches
Dick is based in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex and serves couples in Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, and surrounding North Texas communities in person. He also offers virtual coaching, weekend retreats, and church consulting engagements nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Dick Ivey?
- Dick Ivey is a Christian marriage coach, educator, and minister with a PhD in Educational Psychology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He founded 24k Gold Marriage with his wife Barb to help couples build marriages that last.
- What is Dick Ivey's background?
- Dick holds a PhD in Educational Psychology and is an ordained minister, educator, and published author on marriage and family. He has 28+ years of personal experience in a successful blended family and has coached hundreds of couples.
- Where is Dick Ivey based?
- Dick is based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area of Texas. He serves couples locally in DFW and offers virtual coaching, retreats, and church consulting nationwide.
- What books has Dick Ivey written?
- Dick is the author of "My Marriage was Lousy and My Divorce Ain't So Hot!" and "Boiling the Frog (Crises in the American First Family)," with a third book "24k Gold Weddings and Styrofoam Marriages" forthcoming.
- What kind of marriage coaching does Dick Ivey offer?
- Dick offers Christian marriage coaching, premarital education, marriage restoration for couples in crisis, blended-family coaching, and the Marriage 3.0 weekend retreat. He also consults with churches building marriage ministries.
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