The words of Isaiah 4:6 inspired the name for The Refuge Center nearly 11 year ago. It reads, “It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.” It is with these same words in mind that we now seek to find a permanent home- a physical space that will accommodate the growing number of clients seeking services and that outwardly reflects the culture of compassionate care that has helped thousands of people through the storms of their daily lives.

Our vision statement is that: “The Refuge Center for Counseling will distinguish itself as the preeminent counseling organization in Tennessee. We will be recognized for our inclusive, family-centered atmosphere, talented therapists, variety of affordable cutting-edge services, and our ability to offer hope to a hurting world.”

The decision to pursue a new home for our organization has been made after years of discussions and careful consideration of what will best serve both our staff and our clients. We have been looking for a 5-10 acre property that will bring the maximum return on our investment and we plan to conduct a capital campaign over the next three years to bring this vision to life.

This is our “Growing Home” campaign. In order for anything to grow, it must be firmly planted. With the need for our counseling services at an all-time high, it is imperative that The Refuge Center find a larger, permanent home. Through generous partnerships, this 15,000 square foot lodge like facility will allow us to provide over 32,000 counseling sessions each year. We strongly believe that no matter who you are, no matter what you have done, no matter what has been done to you, no matter how much your income is or where you live- when you come to The Refuge Center you deserve to have the most excellent care possible with maximum opportunity for healing.

For us, growth is not only about increased capacity for services, but also about becoming the most excellent in our service delivery and in the experience the client has.

More information will be released about this campaign in early 2017. We invite any questions, comments, thoughts, and prayers as we seek to find our permanent home.

To view a visual to what our home may look and feel like, please click:  Growing Home

The Refuge Center for Counseling received a grant from The Healing Trust, which awarded funds totaling over $1.1 million to 19 nonprofits in its most recent grant cycle. The Refuge Center for Counseling’s grant was for $23,874 and will be used for Amy Alexander,

Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Refuge Center to take a 10-week sabbatical. The Refuge Center for Counseling exists to offer affordable, professional counseling services in order to empower, educate and support individuals, couples and families in need. This year Refuge will provide over 16,000 counseling sessions for nearly 2,200 individuals.

The Sabbatical Grants program was created to support CEOs/Executive Directors of nonprofits who need to take some time for renewal in order to continue to effectively serve the nonprofit agencies that they have committed to leading. “Every leader owes themselves and their organizations the gift of sabbatical. That time away gives everyone a chance to test their wings and experience new ways of thinking. For the leader it may become a new discovery that (s)he can unplug completely and the yet the sun will still rise.” said President & CEO Dr. Cathy Self.

The mission of The Healing Trust, a private grant making foundation, is the sacred work of fostering healing and wholeness for vulnerable populations through strategic investing, philanthropy, and advocacy. Recipients of the contributions include non-profit organizations from 40 counties in Middle Tennessee that focus on advocacy, physical health, mental health, recovery from alcohol and drug abuse or healing from abuse, neglect, and violence. This year’s grants bring the collective grant making of The Healing Trust to over $75 million since 2002. The Trust, while created out of the sale of Baptist Hospital to Ascension Health/St. Thomas Health Services, is a private, independent foundation and is not affiliated with the St. Thomas Health Services or the St. Thomas Health Services Fund.