Meet Our Staff

 

 

 

 

Amy Alexander, L.M.F.T.
Executive Director
Amy Alexander is a licensed marriage and family therapist and is the Co-Founder of The Refuge Center for Counseling. Her areas of clinical focus include: Trauma, Domestic and Sexual Violence, Women’s Issues and Addictions. Amy is trained in EMDR, Brainspotting, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Amy is also clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lauren Capozzi, M.M.F.T.
Lauren Capozzi has a BA in Religion with an emphasis in Youth and Family studies, and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has spent the past eight years working with adolescents and families, and the past four years with high risk behavior clients. Lauren is most passionate about helping and equipping families to work towards living and functioning healthily together. Approaching therapy through a systemic lens, she believes that even when working with an individual, the family is a priceless asset. In working with adolescents and families, her most thorough experience includes dealing and coping with a wide range of family and individual conflicts such as: substance abuse, emotional abuse, behavioral difficulties in adolescents, divorce and transitional adjustments, as well as anxiety and depression.  Lauren has been trained in EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and multiple safety-focused techniques.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connie Kinder, M.M.F.T.
Connie Kinder has a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is passionate about walking with people who are struggling integrating their faith with difficult life experience and broken relationships. She is trained to support clients with anxiety, depression, traumatic experience, struggling marriages, difficult parenting, and divorce adjustment. Connie’s life experience, and a background in education equip her to work with a variety of age groups including, children, individuals, couples, and families.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shari McClaren, M.A.
Shari McClaren has a Master’s degree in Counseling.  Her passion is to walk along side individuals into their journey from brokenness to healing through therapy. Shari believes in both individual and group therapy work for her clients. Shari currently leads a women’s group at The Refuge Center for sexual abuse recovery, called “Wounded Hearts.” Her areas of clinical focus include: Women’s Issues, Trauma, Sexual Abuse Recovery, Domestic Violence, Transitional Adjustments, Anxiety and Depression. Shari is trained in EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and uses an eclectic approach to therapy with clients.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alice Stricklin, L.M.F.T.
Clinical Director
Alice Stricklin has a BS in Psychology and Sociology, a Masters in Public Health, and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has spent 10 years studying and working within the psychology and sociology fields. Her experience is in working with women, children, and families. Alice approaches therapy with a systems outlook and although at times she is working with an individual, often incorporates family and system dynamics in the process. She has a passion for helping children and families, but has also been blessed to work with adults in many different areas as well. Her training allows her to work with all ages on issues ranging from trauma, depression, anxiety, and life adjustments. In working with children and families her experience lies in divorce adjustment, sex abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, behavior difficulties, healthy parenting, anxiety, depression, and life adjustments.Alice has the following specified trainings that she utilizes in her practice; EMDR, Brainspotting, CSBP (working with children with sexual behavior problems), and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kyle Turner, LPC, MHSP
Kyle Turner has a Master’s degree in Counseling. Kyle has a diverse clinical background including family and couples therapy, parenting training, domestic violence, and behavioral issues with teens. Kyle is trained in EMDR and Brainspotting. Kyle is also certified to administer the Prepare/Enrich assessment, a valuable tool for pre-marital work. Kyle enjoys working with people to not only help them deal with their current situation or crisis but also to realize their full potential.

 

Noah Zapf, M.A.
Noah Zapf  has a BA in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling.  He is passionate about working with individuals and couples as they walk through the dark valleys of life and into richer, more fulfilling lives.  Noah has been trained in EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples. Noah is a current member of the Nashville Area Association of Christian Counselors and the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors Association.

 

 

 

 

 

Debra Partee, A.P.N
Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Debra Partee is the Assistant Professor of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and a Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurse. Deb has been an APN for over 25 years, and in addition to teaching nursing students, she has worked with many non-profit agencies, including mental health clinics and domestic violence shelters. Deb works with Refuge Center clients to prescribe psychiatric medications and provide medication management, as needed, and always in conjunction with the counseling they receive. Deb has particular expertise in treating depression, anxiety, mood disorders and trauma related symptoms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lisa Martin
Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Lisa Martin serves as The Refuge Center Office Manager and Executive Assistant. Lisa has a BS in Marketing from Lipscomb University. She comes to The Refuge Center with a diverse background but most of all with a heart for ministry and serving others. She believes in the mission and ministry of The Refuge and is passionate about her role in extending support and care to the therapists and the Refuge community.

 

The Refuge Center also has male and female Master’s and Doctoral Level Counseling interns from local and regional Universities available to provide various kinds of therapeutic services to families and individuals.