The Refuge Center for Counseling opened in December 2005 as the vision of its founders Amy Alexander and Jennifer Gillett. 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 name for the center was inspired by a passage in Isaiah which says, “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) Beyond being a place to receive affordable and professional counseling services, The Refuge Center has also become a place where people are able to find hope and healing from the storms of their daily lives. 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.
