Mary-Claire Marshall, M.A., LMFT

Owner of Refuge Counseling

It’s likely that if you’re here, you’ve been in a constant state of overwhelm or stress for some time now. You’ve probably tried working through it on your own, with friends, or even a trusted mentor. Maybe you have tried “self-care,” self-help books, or other lifestyle changes but nothing seems to help you find breakthrough.

I’m Mary-Claire Marshall, founder of Refuge Counseling, and I understand that we all go through difficult seasons and stages in which having a professional confidant in your corner is invaluable. I understand where you are now, because I’ve been in those difficult seasons too.

“Home” is often a relative term. Many of us recognize that home is not always a physical place, but a place of peace within. Upon reflection after a move years ago, the word “refuge” was brought to mind. As I’ve sought to make my personal home a place of safety and peace, I recognized that many of us never truly feel peace within. Trauma, family patterns, negative relationships, and circumstances often keep us stuck in pain and distress.

Refuge Counseling was birthed out of a desire to provide a safe space to those that need a listening ear, and comes from Psalm 91: 1-4:

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Core Values

My core values are empathy, openness, and collaboration in the counseling space. My goal is not to give you advice, but to give you the right tools and support to empower you to be the expert in your life. My counseling style is warm and interactive, supportive, and non-judgmental.

Methods

My method is counseling through a family systems lens, with a psychodynamic approach appropriate to your particular needs. I believe the mind/body/spirit work hand-in-hand and utilize a holistic approach to treatment. I combine somatic and experiential interventions, trauma-informed approaches, Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), and others as needed in care.

Background

My background in child, adolescent, and adult counseling in community mental health and higher education has provided a wide range of experience with different concerns. I tell my clients “nothing is off-limits;” what matters to you, matters to me. My goal is to help heal those places of pain in a tangible way that transforms your daily life.

While my Christian faith is an important piece of my identity, clients do not have to subscribe to a particular faith background to participate in counseling with me. Counseling is an appropriate space for exploring questions of faith, identity, and family values. If you wish to incorporate your faith into the counseling space, we can do so.

Highlighted Training

  • Bachelor of Arts in English & Psychology-University of Mobile

  • Master of Arts in Marriage & Family Counseling- University of Mobile

  • Licensed Alabama Marriage & Family Therapist, #417, Issued 1/26/15

  • Alabama Marriage & Family Therapy Supervisor in Training, SIT417, Issued November 2024

  • Trained Critical Incident Stress Management First Responder

  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) provider; visit EMDR International Association for more information

Extras

  • If you’re a self-proclaimed personality test aficionado like me, I’m a Myers-Briggs INFJ and my Clifton-Strengths are Empathy – Connectedness – Relator – Futuristic – Input. My DISC leans towards S-Steadiness, and my top love languages are Giving/Receiving Gifts and Quality Time (my sixth is FOOD!). My spiritual gift is Mercy, and if this is all Greek to you, I will happily tell you all about it.

  • I’m a wife, Mama to two boys, one dog, four cats, a handful of ducks, and a partridge in a pear tree.

  • My own therapies include baking, thrifting, gardening, drinking all the coffee and watching too much T.V.

  • I am an adjunct instructor at University of Mobile, teaching Psychology & Counseling courses

“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”

-Maya Angelou

Chat with me

Would you like to sit down with a cup of coffee and see if we are a good fit?