refuge center prayer wall

Our Culture

At Refuge, we believe in a culture of compassionate care. Not just a “buzz word” or phrase, it underpins everything we do. We define it as: “being bonded with another in a positive way that allows us to relate to each other from a place of kindness and compassion.” It is an essential foundation for a long-lasting relationship. Everything we do, whether it be providing therapy on a sliding-fee scale, raising money through our Development team to fill the gap or anything in between is looked at from this lens.

Our Teams

Staff Therapists

We have over 15+ Therapists on full-time staff at Refuge. This team is dedicated to the mission and vision of Refuge and most of our therapists  also oversee other areas of life at Refuge as Directors of the various programs we offer such as the Child/Teen, Intern, and Groups and Intensives Programs.

About our staff therapists

Master’s Level Interns

Our interns make connections, gain experience, participate in continuing education, receive supervision and support and do meaningful work!

About Internships

Post-Master’s Volunteers

Volunteers are able to accelerate clinical experience and continuing education with free group supervision in a nurturing, supportive culture.

ABOUT PMVF

Contract Therapists

A Contract Therapist will maintain weekly contacted caseload of individual and family clients, attend regular meetings with Director of the Contract Program, support policies and procedures of The Refuge Center, and demonstrate administrative and ethical excellence in notes, files, reports, EMR, etc.

CONTRACT THERAPISTS

Administrative

Our Administrative team at Refuge allow us to do the soul-affirming work that we do by taking care of the “behind the scenes” work: Raising funds, grant-writing, paying our therapists, marketing our services and events, all happens because of our incredible Administrative Support.

Our Staff

What The Refuge Center offers that you don’t have in private practice:

  • Refuge pays for a full-time Marketing Manager who assists in spreading the word about services so you are automatically given clients and referrals without having to do any personal marketing.
  • Refuge pays for front-desk staff who answers phone and calls, screens and places referrals with you so you don’t have to spend administrative time doing those things.
  • Refuge pays for intake specialists to also screen clients for fit and to complete all the intake paperwork on your behalf.
  • Refuge pays for a bookkeeper to handle getting payment to you.
  • Refuge pays for a Clinical Director to oversee legal issues, HIPPA and confidentiality concerns so you are not alone in those things. The Clinical Director also has many of the “hard” conversations with clients/parents who may be upset.
  • Refuge has an attorney and legal consult team member who handle quashing subpoenas and can go to court with you as needed for extra support and protection.
  • Refuge Center covers the cost of rent and utilities.
  • Refuge pays for office supplies, computers and tech support.
  • Refuge pays for snacks.
  • Refuge pays for some continuing ed/individual supervision.
  • Refuge offers free group supervision towards licensure.
  • Refuge offers free opportunities for continued growth such as learning group facilitation, how to conduct Intensives, etc. along with other quarterly continuing education trainings.
  • Refuge offers a sense of community filled with open doors and support, as well as potlucks, gatherings and outings.

Equal Employment Opportunities

The Refuge Center for Counseling provides equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants for employment. The Refuge Center also provides equal opportunity for individuals to receive services. In accordance with our professional ethics, Counselors at The Refuge Center provide professional assistance to persons without discrimination on the basis of race, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, culture, disability, gender, language preference, health status, religion, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender identity, political belief, or relationship status.

Additional Benefits

Additional benefits if you are in a staff role at Refuge:

  • Health Insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Perks program
  • Annual staff trip
  • Merit based bonuses
children's therapy session

Staff Story

One of the reasons I love working here is the friendships I have made. The friends we make here at Refuge give us a chance to tell our own stories in a safe, non-judgmental environment. I look forward to coming to work each day. It is hard work and it is deep, meaningful work and at times scary work. There is something sacred about a hello, an open door, a smile, a friendly comment. I collect these moments and offerings of friendship and place them deep within my heart. Richard Rohr encourages us, in Immortal Diamond, to, ‘be around people where you can be your true self.’  I think I’ve found my true self here at Refuge.

– Kimberly Kooy, LMFT and Neurofeedback Therapist

Staff Story

I love The Refuge Center because I am celebrated for showing up as my authentic self and am invited to grow in that authentic space.

– Keith Hays (Master’s Level Intern)

Staff Story

I love The Refuge Center because of how it cares for it’s staff – working in the field of mental health is challenging, and having the support and compassion of supervisors has been so healing for me.

– Kaity Campbell (Intake Specialist)

Staff Story

I love Refuge because we have a heart for hurting people and because we care about those who do that work.

– Anita Pringle, Staff Therapist/Clinical Director

Staff Story

Refuge is a community unlike any other…it is safe and connected. There is an intentional focus on excellence, training the next generation of therapists and providing outstanding care to clients on an affordable basis. There are so many opportunities to learn; working together with so many talented therapists encourages growth for all. We work hard to bring healing to clients, we care well for one another and we also have fun. There is no place I would rather be…Refuge truly is a place of refuge for all.

– Tina Taylor Goode, Staff Therapist/Director of Intern Program

Staff Story

It is a privileged to work with so many amazing people here at Refuge! I love the Refuge because of the mission to love and serve those in need of a fellow traveler to come alongside for a season of support and care. Working here is truly one of the deepest joys of my life!

– Leila Borders, Master’s Level Intern

Refuge has been such a gift to me, in more ways than one, and I am thankful and blessed to have been part of its community for the past 2.5 years. It has been both a safe place to land during one of the hardest years, as well as a vitally important part of my personal and professional development. It was also a joy and a gift to be part of your supervision group for much of my time here. I hope to stay connected with Refuge, and am also so grateful for the opportunity it has provided to my mom.

– Angie de Meistre, PMVF

Staff Story

My favorite thing about the culture at Refuge is that self-care is valued, encouraged and prioritized. The statement, “What you do matters, but YOU matter more” is inherent to the culture. As therapists, we cannot do this work unless we have a value for ourselves and our own self-care.

– Kimberly Kooy, Staff Therapist

Staff Story

I am grateful for the family collaboration. A work culture of family collaboration emphasizes a close-knit, supportive environment where colleagues are encouraged to interact like a cohesive family unit. This often involves open communication, mutual respect, and a sense of shared responsibility. It can foster a strong sense of belonging, trust, and cooperation among team members. In such a culture, individuals may feel more comfortable seeking help or sharing ideas, leading to increased productivity and job satisfaction.

– Jimmy Boehm, Staff Therapist/Accessibility Coordinator

Staff Story

What I love most about Refuge is “that every person here TRULY and SINCERELY wants every other person here to reach their own full potential and to be successful and fulfilled.

– Nora Balint, Staff Therapist

Staff Story

My favorite part of the Refuge culture is the calming presence of being in the Refuge center. I am guaranteed to be welcomed with a smile by someone here every day that I arrive.

– Dre Sanders, Contract Therapist

Staff Story

I love the community of our culture. I love being able to pop into friend’s offices and laugh between sessions or consult about a difficult client. It’s a great mix of fun and professionalism.

– Elizabeth Edwards, Staff Therapist/Director of Contract Therapists

Staff Story

Refuge feels like home and place where grace is always extended.

– Amy Holmes, Chief Executive Assistant

Staff Story

I love coming to work knowing that whether I’m having a good day or an off day there will be someone I can laugh with or vent to between sessions. I get to work alongside some of the most caring people who have become dear friends that truly fill my cup with support and connection.

– Michelle Nagy, Staff Therapist, Director of Compassionate Care

Staff Story

Respect and trust are two big words that resonate with me around our culture. Trust, in that I feel deeply trusted to do my job and do it well (vitally important for me personally) and respect in the manner of feeling that we’re all met where we are as individuals (also essential for me personally!)

– Jennie Latimer, Grants Manager

Work With Us

Interested in being a part of the freedom and transformation taking place at The Refuge Center?  We have a variety of roles and spaces available within our organization.

Tell Us You’re Interested