Refuge Counseling Center is honored to collaborate with churches committed to changing the stigma of mental health in their faith communities by embracing a holistic counseling approach—one that takes into consideration the mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and relational needs of individuals.

This work is greatly enhanced when counselors and church leaders work together for the well-being of their communities. As such, Refuge offers church leadership teams a variety of support resources, including counseling for ministry leaders, scholarship options for church members, and church consultation and training.

Whether you are dealing with burnout, a ministry transition, or challenges in your marriage or family, Refuge Counseling Center will help you find an experienced counselor or certified ministry coach to walk alongside you to address your needs. We will also work with you to provide financial assistance as needed. Please contact ministry@refugecounseling.com for more information.

Refuge also partners with Sanctuary Inc., a 501(c)(3) counseling and coaching ministry that works exclusively with pastors, missionaries, and para-church leaders to find practical strategies for enhancing various areas of life, including work, ministry, spiritual growth, relationships, and personal wellbeing. Please contact dori@refugecounseling.com to learn more.

The team of counselors who serve at Refuge Counseling Center represents many churches across the Treasure Valley. As a non-profit counseling center, part of our mission is to provide scholarship funding to assist with counseling fees, regardless of church or non-church affiliation. As the need for faith-based mental health services increases, we need other churches to join us in providing scholarship funding to assist with counseling fees.

In 2023, Refuge was able to offer nearly $25,000 in scholarship funds for community members across the Treasure Valley. Unfortunately, the need exceeds our funding, and we currently have a scholarship waitlist. If you would consider partnering with us financially as part of your yearly missional giving, please click below and choose the dropdown option for Refuge Counseling Center. 100% of your gift goes directly to cover counseling fees.

Refuge partners with Sanctuary, a 501(c)(3) counseling and coaching ministry, to offer individually tailored coaching and consulting that is designed to support churches and strengthen leadership teams in transition. 

Consultation and training services can be customized to span a range of topics, including:

• Team building based on leadership gifting and strengths

• Self-care and boundaries

• Vision and mission alignment

For more information, or to schedule a free consultation, please email sanctuarycoachingandcounseling@gmail.com.

Interested in developing a church counseling center?

Dori Halbert, Executive Director of Refuge Counseling Center, consults with churches that are exploring the benefits of developing a faith-based counseling center. Her book, The Office with Two Doors: A Resource for Faith-based Counselors and Churches Focused on Holistic Healing, is an additional resource that offers practical insights into how a church-based counseling center can ethically integrate theology and psychology to reduce mental-health challenges in a community and remove roadblocks to healing. 

For more information contact Dori at dori@refugecounseling.com

“As a church we felt called to launch a counseling center and Dori has been an absolute blessing to guide us through the process on best practices and how to start. Her warmth, wisdom, and experience were incredibly valuable to help us think through and plan how to launch our counseling center. If you’re looking for someone to support you through the process, look no further and BUY THE BOOK–I still use it to refer back to!”

Kelli Singleton, Executive Director

For The One Counseling, Reno, NV