Yes. Our counseling center is a clinical mental health counseling center, which means that all our staff are credentialed professionals and clinical interns who have completed advanced training in counseling and psychotherapy. Additionally, all Refuge counselors uphold the standards and best practices of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).

Faith-based counseling is a holistic approach to mental health that integrates psychology (the study of the mind and behavior) and theology (the study of God and God’s relationship to the world). This integrated approach helps us provide mental health services that are researched, evidence-based, and address all domains of wellness, including mental, emotional, spiritual, relational, and physical.

Our counselors operate from a holistic healing perspective, which includes helping you find access to resources that align with your faith values. Each Refuge counselor will use a slightly different approach based on their understanding of your problem and your level of comfort. For example, they may help you explore how your faith informs your current situation; they may reference Scripture or biblical stories; they may pray for you or join you in prayer; and they may lead you in spiritual guided imagery focused on health and healing. How much you incorporate faith into your counseling journey is entirely up to you. You are encouraged to tell your counselor the kind of spiritual interventions you are comfortable with and how much or little you would like to focus on them.

We are a Christian ministry supported by Crossroads Community Church. As such, all counselors at Refuge Counseling Center profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and believe in the transformational power of the Holy Spirit.

Counselors and staff at Refuge share a common biblical worldview that encompasses the tenets of the historical Christian Faith as outlined below.

What we believe about God:

• In the eternally existing Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• In God the Father who concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of man.

• In Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, teachings, His atoning death, resurrection, ascension into heaven, and promise of His personal, visible return to earth and the establishing of His kingdom.

• In the Holy Spirit and His present ministry of rebirth and renewal as well as the giving of spiritual gifts to each follower of Christ.

What we believe about humans:

• That both men and women are created in God’s image and are qualified to lead as enabled by the Holy Spirit.

• That all people have sinned yet are made in the image of God. Only repentance and faith in Christ can restore us into fellowship with God.

• In the global Church and the living spiritual body, of which Christ is the Head and all regenerated persons are members.

What we believe about faith:

• In the Bible as the fully inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule for faith and practice.

• In Water Baptism and Communion as a means of grace from God to us.

• In the historic orthodox creeds of the church as the fundamental facts of the Christian faith.

No. Our services are available to everyone, and our approach to therapy is to meet people wherever they are in all areas of their lives. We are honored to work with people from a variety of worldviews and faith backgrounds, and we strive to uphold the dignity of all people. Our counselors work with an attitude of Christ-like service but do not aim to impose their beliefs or values on the client.

Our counselors are trained in many areas, including anxiety, depression, relationship distress, trauma, grief, spiritual abuse, sexual addictions, men’s and women’s issues, and life transitions. You can learn more about what we address and the type of therapies we offer at our services page.

Our administration team can let you know which counselors have availability and whose area of expertise best matches your need. You will then be directed to reach out to a specific counselor for scheduling.

You can reach our administration team via email at office@refugecounseling.com or by phone on (208) 465-4985. Our phone lines are open Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm. Please leave a message and someone will get back to you within the next 24 business hours.

Yes, you may request a particular counselor. Your preference will be honored if your presenting issue is within their treatment area, provided your counselor of choice has available appointment times.

The wait time will vary depending on the counselor you see. Sometimes our counselors have waiting lists, particularly with the increased demand for mental health services. Please call our office on (208) 465-4985 for up-to-date information on counselors with openings.

Our regular fees range between $40 (intern), $100 (LPC), and $130 (LCPC) per session. Reduced rates and partial scholarships are also available upon request.

Some of our counselors have contracts with insurance companies and can bill directly for counseling services. All Refuge counselors can offer a superbill for reimbursement (you will have to confirm if your provider will accept this). To find out if your counselor will accept insurance, please contact them directly or visit their biography page.

Counseling can help you:

• Better understand, manage, and express your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors

• Process and reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions

• Move through difficult life challenges and transitions

• Learn new communication and interpersonal skills

• Improve your personal relationships

• Increase your confidence, self-esteem, and self-acceptance

• Find hope, motivation, encouragement, and purpose

The first counseling session typically involves you and your counselor getting to know each other. You will likely spend the time reviewing any intake paperwork you completed before the session, and the counselor may ask you some further questions to gather more information about you, your presenting problem, and your goals. The counselor may also give you an overview about their therapeutic approach and discuss with you some potential treatment options for moving forward. Feel free to ask your counselor for more information any time you need it.

Each counseling session lasts 50 minutes. There may be times where a longer session is recommended or where a more intensive approach may be considered. If this is the case, your counselor will discuss this with you and together you can decide on the best approach forward.

The length of the counseling journey depends on many factors, including the nature of your presenting problem(s), your goals and desired outcomes, the type of therapy approach, and your commitment to the process. The last point is particularly important since counseling will require your active involvement, honesty, and openness in order to change your thoughts, feelings, and/or behavior.

Not necessarily. Some Refuge counselors may provide you with a diagnosis for insurance or superbill purposes, but some may prefer to focus instead on the underlying issues linked to your symptoms. Feel free to ask your counselor for more information regarding their approach to assessment and diagnosis.

If you are experiencing an emergency or are in crisis, please take the following action as needed:

• Call 911

• Go to your local emergency room

• Call the suicide and crisis lifeline by dialing 988. Learn more here.

• Call your primary health care provider

• Visit our community resources page for more local support information.