Meet Our Therapists
The Refuge Center also has male and female Master’s Level Counseling interns from local and regional Universities available to provide various kinds of therapeutic services to families and individuals.
Amy Alexander, LMFT
Executive Director, Therapist
Amy Alexander is a licensed marriage and family therapist and is the Co-Founder of The Refuge Center for Counseling. Her areas of clinical focus include: Trauma, Domestic and Sexual Violence, Women’s Issues and Addictions. Amy is trained in EMDR, Brainspotting, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor in training. Amy is also a current member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and also the Nashville Area Association of Christian Counselors.
Kelly Bourque, LMFT
Children’s Program Coordinator, Therapist
Kelly Bourque is a licensed marriage and family therapist who works with individuals and families through the lens of systems theory. Her experience includes marital therapy, family therapy and attachment therapy. Kelly has specific training in attachment work, EFT for couples, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) and Brainspotting. Kelly uses an integrative approach for therapy – treatment plans and type of therapy are based on the individual needs and personality of a family. She also has experience and interest in working with missionary families.
Lauren Capozzi, MMFT
Therapist
Lauren Capozzi has a BA in Religion with an emphasis in Youth and Family studies, and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has spent the past eight years working with adolescents and families, and the past four years with high risk behavior clients. Lauren is most passionate about helping and equipping families to work towards living and functioning healthily together. Approaching therapy through a systemic lens, she believes that even when working with an individual, the family is a priceless asset. In working with adolescents and families, her most thorough experience includes dealing and coping with a wide range of family and individual conflicts such as: substance abuse, emotional abuse, behavioral difficulties in adolescents, divorce and transitional adjustments, as well as anxiety and depression. Lauren has been trained in EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and multiple safety-focused techniques.
Shari McClaren, M.A.
Therapist
Shari McClaren has a Master’s degree in Counseling. Her passion is to walk along side individuals into their journey from brokenness to healing through therapy. Shari believes in both individual and group therapy work for her clients. Shari currently leads a women’s group at The Refuge Center for sexual abuse recovery, called “Wounded Hearts.” Her areas of clinical focus include: Women’s Issues, Trauma, Sexual Abuse Recovery, Domestic Violence, Transitional Adjustments, Anxiety and Depression. Shari is trained in EMDR, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and uses an eclectic approach to therapy with clients.
Alice Stricklin, LMFT
Therapist
Alice Stricklin has a BS in Psychology and Sociology, a Masters in Public Health, and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has spent 10 years studying and working within the psychology and sociology fields. Her experience is in working with women, children, and families. Alice approaches therapy with a systems outlook and although at times she is working with an individual, often incorporates family and system dynamics in the process. She has a passion for helping children and families, but has also been blessed to work with adults in many different areas as well. Her training allows her to work with all ages on issues ranging from trauma, depression, anxiety, and life adjustments. In working with children and families her experience lies in divorce adjustment, sex abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, behavior difficulties, healthy parenting, anxiety, depression, and life adjustments. Alice has the following specified trainings that she utilizes in her practice; EMDR, Brainspotting, CSBP (working with children with sexual behavior problems), and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Kyle Turner, M.A.
Faith Community Outreach Director, Therapist
Kyle Turner has a Master’s degree in Counseling. Kyle has a diverse clinical background including family and couples therapy, parenting training, domestic violence, and behavioral issues with teens. Kyle is trained in EMDR and Brainspotting. Kyle is also certified to administer the Prepare/Enrich assessment, a valuable tool for pre-marital work. Kyle enjoys working with people to not only help them deal with their current situation or crisis but also to realize their full potential.
Debra Partee, APN
Debra Partee is the Assistant Professor of Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and a Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurse. Deb has been an APN for over 25 years, and in addition to teaching nursing students, she has worked with many non-profit agencies, including mental health clinics and domestic violence shelters. Deb works with Refuge Center clients to prescribe psychiatric medications and provide medication management, as needed, and always in conjunction with the counseling they receive. Deb has particular expertise in treating depression, anxiety, mood disorders and trauma related symptoms.
