Our Story
The Refuge Center is not only a place to receive affordable and professional counseling services, it has also become a place where people are able to find hope and healing from the storms of their daily lives.
Our History
A place where people find hope and healing.
The Refuge Center for Counseling opened in December 2005 as the vision of its founders Amy Alexander and Jennifer Thames-Hamilton. Amy and Jennifer had a strong desire to serve their area of residence—Williamson County—which is recognized for its wealth, oftentimes overshadowing those who are in need. To live among great prosperity and to be in need is often to feel invisible.
The Refuge Center’s mission was clear from the beginning—to offer affordable, professional counseling services in order to empower, educate and support individuals, couples and families in need. Amy and Jennifer had discovered that there were few opportunities for affordable counseling in the area, as many local therapists charge $160 – $225 per session. They wanted to offer therapy to those who could not afford those fees, so they created a sliding-scale fee structure that ranges from $19 – $125 per session and is based on each individual’s income level.
The Refuge Center Mission Statement
The Refuge Center exists to offer excellent, accessible, and affordable mental and emotional healthcare services in support of a transformational impact on communities.
Our vision & Values
Get to Know The Refuge Center for Counseling
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, cutting-edge services, and our ability to offer hope to a hurting world.
Our Values
Affordable to All
Services Provided with Excellence
Christ-Centered
Educating Community
Hope
It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and a hiding place from the storm and the rain.
Isaiah 4:6, the passage we were inspired by
Building Refuge
In its first year, The Refuge Center provided 516 counseling sessions for 90 people and has grown every year since, providing more than 38,000 counseling sessions to 4,000 people in 2022. We have also expanded services in recent years to include NeuroFeedback and Music Therapy.
In 2024, the Refuge Center will be opening its new, permanent home just south of Franklin, TN. The Refuge Center’s 15,200 square foot facility and campus will embody our culture of compassionate care. This facility will feature dedicated spaces like an outdoor prayer chapel, serene walking trails, a healing garden and prayer labyrinth, playground for children, and a spacious multi-purpose room for seminars and group activities. If you have any questions about this new facility, please visit our “Building Refuge” page or reach out to us. We’re here to provide answers and engage with you.