Cognitive Dynamic Therapy Associates Establishes Kurtz Center for Love & Intimacy

CDTA Shirley Kurtz Photo
Dr. Shirley Kurtz
Robert Schwartz Photo
Dr. Robert Schwartz

Cognitive Dynamic Therapy Associates (CDTA), a multi-specialty psychology group practice with offices in Oakland and Wexford, has created The Kurtz Center for Love & Intimacy to help couples achieve healthy relationships and satisfying sexual lives. It also trains and certifies sex therapists. The Center, which is based in CDTA’s Oakland offices, is named in honor of Dr. Shirley Kurtz, a psychologist who has been affiliated with the practice since its inception more than 30 years ago. She is also one of the first Pittsburgh therapists to be certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (ASSECT).

“I am deeply honored by the generosity of spirit which my colleagues have shown me,” says Dr. Kurtz, who received a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh in 1974, when few women pursued advanced degrees. She also studied under William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson, pioneers in research about human sexual response and the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders, and co-authors of two classic texts in the field.

The Kurtz Center provides an array of clinical services and workshops related to intimacy. Issues addressed include communication problems, sexual dysfunctions and addictions, and keeping the passion in relationships. The Center also offers numerous sex therapy training services, including supervision for ASSECT certification. CDTA has more ASSECT-certified therapists than any psychology practice in the United States.

“This concentration of wisdom and experience about sexuality and intimate relationships is a unique asset to the Tri-State Area,” says Robert Schwartz, Ph.D., president of CDTA and director of The Kurtz Center. “Such a resource is especially valuable in this era of struggling marriages and sexual misbehavior. The Kurtz Center is a fitting tribute to the profound impact that Shirley Kurtz has had on the lives of so many people, including mine. Her achievements and selflessness in helping couples overcome obstacles, and in training sex therapists such as I to help others, have resulted in thousands of people reaching levels of fulfillment which they thought were unattainable.”

“Shirley is the personification of a valued colleague and friend,” adds  Lawrence Glanz, Ph.D., vice president of CDTA and director of the practice’s Anxiety Disorders Program.  “Her insightfulness and good nature have had a profound impact on those of us who have the pleasure of working with her, and I look forward to many more years of benefitting from her wisdom and character.”

The Kurtz Center’s clinical services include:

  • Communication Problems
  • Infertility/Adoption
  • Loss of Sexual Desire
  • Pre-Marital & Marital Conflicts
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Sexual Addiction

The Center’s workshops include:

  • Marriage 101: Survival Skills for Lasting Love
  • Keep the Sexual Passion Burning: Why It Fades and How to Stoke the Fire
  • Sex After Children

The Center’s training activities consist of:

  • Ongoing Sex Therapy Seminars
  • Supervision in Sex Therapy
  • ASSECT Certification Supervision

Cognitive Dynamic Therapy Associates (CDTA) is one of Pittsburgh’s leading multi-specialty psychology group practices. CDTA offers adults, children and families state-of-the-art psychotherapy and consultation for emotional, behavioral and interpersonal problems. The practice was established in 1981 and is composed of 11 professionals who average more than 20 years of experience in the field of psychotherapy. They have authored books, have been published in professional journals and are active in psychotherapy organizations nationally. CDTA’s therapists are also affiliated with Pittsburgh-area hospitals and medical schools. CDTA’s offices are located in Oakland at 155 North Craig Street, and in Wexford at 9500 Brooktree Road, Suite 310, near the intersection of Perry Highway.  

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