Counseling Services

Meet Our Seasoned Professional Therapists

Healing is possible when you have the right people to support you. Here at The Refuge 18-2, our professional therapists are trained in multiple evidence-based therapy models. We provide counseling based on sliding scale fee rates. We also offer training for counseling interns, professionals as well as churches, community organizations, and schools in Metairie, LA. Meet our hardworking team of professional therapists, and allow us to provide you with the individual and family therapy you need.

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Michele Louviere, LMFT, LLC

Michele Louviere is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 25 years of counseling experience. She has a Masters of Divinity in Psychology and Counseling degree and one year of doctoral work from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Science in English Education from Louisiana State University. After completing her internship as a counselor at Celebration Church in Metairie, LA, Michele moved to Portland, Oregon, where she was first licensed as a LMFT and practiced for eight years.

When Hurricane Katrina occurred, Michele returned to New Orleans to work with Celebration Church to establish a ministry to help the community heal from the traumatic devastation from the storm. For 12 years, Michele served as the Clinical Director at Celebration Hope Center (CHC) in Metairie, LA. CHC developed into a vibrant faith-based, professional community center serving people through its prevention, addiction, and mental health programs. Beyond providing therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, CHC also became a training facility for master level and professional counselors.

Michele has extensive training in specialized evidence-based trauma recovery models for children, adolescents, and adults. She primarily provides counseling for adults who have been traumatized in various life stages. She uses Story-Informed Trauma Counseling and other trauma models, such as Eye-Movement De-sensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACTS), and Sand Tray Therapy to help adults heal from life trauma. She also works with couples to help heal their relational attachment wounds, creating safe and intimate connections using Emotionally Focused Therapy, which is the most effective evidence-based therapy model for relational healing. Michele is a Certified EFT Therapist and Supervisor.

In the last eight years, Michele has provided training and consultation in her community, as well as in England, Israel, Alabama (tornadoes), Missouri (police violence), and New York (Hurricane Sandy). In 2016, Michele and her staff helped the greater Baton Rouge community recover, following the police violence and the 1000-year flood that destroyed thousands of homes and left behind a tsunami of emotional and spiritual damage. In March 2018, Michele joined the Refuge 18-2 team, that focuses specifically on adult trauma recovery.

For many years, Michele has served on the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) Board for Grief, Crisis, and Disaster. She now works with AACC to help with their Project SUSTAIN, which is a roadmap for helping heal communities impacted by man-made or natural disasters. Project SUSTAIN has been launched in Las Vegas (mass shooting), Texas (Harvey), ,California (fires) and Puerto Rico (Maria) to help with both short-term and long-term recovery. Project SUSTAIN has been utilized to help churches and communities impacted by the Covid-10 pandemic.

She has been married to Jim Louviere, a pastor and hospice chaplain, for 30 years and has two amazing children.

If you would like to contact Michele for counseling, training, supervision, or Project Sustain, then please email her at

Michele@refuge182.com.

Carissa Mitchell

Carissa is a Licensed Addictions Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has completed her Master’s in Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans as well as a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Rehabilitation Services (2003).

Carissa started working in substance abuse in 2008 and returned to school in 2015 to be able to address all clients' needs related to mood, trauma or addiction. She loves attending to the needs of traumatized individuals and couples spending the last 4 years primarily working with trauma related issues utilizing the models above.

She works to provide a safe, warm, judgment free environment for processing difficult issues. It takes great courage to take the step for counseling and she counts it as a privilege to be able to be a part of the journey.

She has served as the Addiction Coordinator at Celebration Hope Center (outpatient treatment) and has been a Addiction Counselor since 2011 through the ADRA. She has extensive experience working with individuals, groups, and families, specifically in addressing addiction, anxiety , depression, grief, trauma and relationships concerns. She has been trained in many substance abuse models (Motivational Enhancement Therapy, Brief Intervention, and CBT) as well as other models that provide an integrated approach to trauma, substance abuse and emotion related issues (Story-Informed Trauma Therapy, Seeking Safety, ACT and EFT). She is trained and experienced in EMDR.

Carissa was born and raised in NOLA. She and her husband continue to raise their three children (one now an adult) in this city they have always called home.

If you would like to contact Carissa for counseling, email her at Carissa@refuge182.com.

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Tiffany Morgan

Tiffany is a Provisional Licensed Counselor (PLPC) and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). As a PLPC she receives supervision from Michelle Dugas LPC-S. Tiffany holds a Masters of Arts degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University and is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Story-Informed Trauma Therapy.

Tiffany has experience working with individuals, couples and families presenting with anxiety, depression, physical/sexual abuse, trauma, relationship issues and/or life transitions. She worked for nine years at the Celebration Hope Center, building a unique counseling internship program, and had the honor of serving as the Mental Health Coordinator.

She is married to Michael who is kitchen and bath cabinet business owner, and she has two children, Olivia and Charlie. Tiffany spends most her days as a stay at home, and is truly blessed to work part-time counseling at The Refuge 18-2.

Tiffany counsels using an approach that is client-centered, emotionally focused, and grounded in structural therapy. She desires to build a therapeutic relationship that allows the client(s) to reach therapeutic goals and obtain healthy and meaningful life. She considers it an honor to walk alongside those in their journey to healing.

If you would like to contact Tiffany for counseling, email her at

Tiffany@refuge.com.

Valeria Rodriguez

Valeria is a Provisionally Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (PLMFT). She graduated with a Master of Arts in Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2023 and a Bachelor of Science in Education in 2020. Her practice is to provide compassionate care for individuals 18 years and older, couples, and families navigating mood disorders, anxiety disorders, relationship misalignment, and PTSD.

As a therapist, Valeria’s mission is to deeply understand each client’s journey, walking alongside them to provide support throughout their therapeutic process. Her therapeutic approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Valeria is fluent in both English and Spanish. She considers it an honor to be part of your care team. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you have. She looks forward to hearing from you!

If you would like to contact Valeria for counseling, email her at Valeria@refuge182.com.

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Rachel Palmer

Rachel works with individuals and couples and is committed to providing safety and compassion so that her clients may share their stories authentically and without shame or fear of judgment. For individuals, her passion is to collaborate with clients to explore the root cause of adverse symptoms to help them heal, grow, and live healthy, fulfilling lives. Brené Brown said, “You either walk into your story and own your truth, or you live outside of your story, hustling for your worthiness.”

Rachel partners with her clients using an approach called Story Informed Trauma Therapy (SITT) to explore the meaning of their stories and break dysfunctional patterns in their lives. For couples, she uses the empirically validated, gold-standard Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help foster connection, break dysfunctional cycles, and build positive relational patterns built on attachment, trust, and intimacy. Rachel is also trained in the Townsend Model.

Rachel has called New Orleans home for over a decade and loves raising her twins here with her husband, Jacob.

If you would like to contact Rachel for counseling, email her at Rachel@refuge.com.

DeAron Washington

DeAron is a Provisionally Licensed Counselor. He is currently working on his Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. DeAron completed his Master’s in Counseling with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Delta State University.

He has experience working with individuals, couples, and groups. He has counseled in inpatient and outpatient settings. He has training in Prepare-Enrich, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trust Based Relational Intervention, and Emotionally Focused Therapy.

He has experience with depression, anxiety, relational issues, spiritual issues, and cultural issues.

DeAron has been married for several years and has two daughters.

If you would like to contact DeAron for counseling, email him at

Dearon@refuge182.com.

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Becky Landry

Becky is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC) and a Provisionally Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (PLMFT). She is a member of CAPS and AACC. She completed a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Life experiences have led her to persevere even when circumstances are overwhelmingly painful and do not make sense. Having the tiniest amount of hope is sometimes all the light we need to face one more day. God has been and continues to be that hope and light in the darkest moments of her life. Her five amazing children are her joy in life. Teaching and helping them navigate a broken world with hope and love brings the Kingdom of God near and into focus daily. Right alongside her children, is the honor and privilege of walking with others in their life journeys to help bring safety, support, and healing in whatever ways are needed.

Becky integrates the best practices of counseling theory and biblical wisdom to help clients (families, couples, individuals) seek peace, joy, freedom, and a greater love for God, others, and themselves. Counseling is based on a keen understanding of the whole person—the unique physical, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual development of each person is considered and treated with the utmost care.

Seeing you step foot into the counseling room is already a win for Becky. She sees your step forward whether it is a giant leap for you or the tiniest movement you can put together. —You matter. Everyone is at a different place in their journey and she is willing to meet you where you are with compassion and kindness. Becky believes we were created to walk this road with others in our lives. We were never intended to do any of this alone. —You are not alone. The wounds we experience in this life remain with us until we work to heal them. While it may be painful to touch old wounds, they cannot be ignored and expected to just go away. This is the process of a gentle healing work we do not have to do by ourselves. —You are seen and heard.

Becky continues to be extremely passionate about the healing of the body of Christ and helps facilitate Mending the Soul groups created and designed by Steve and Celestia Tracy mendingthesoul.org. These groups create safe and sacred spaces for people to take the masks off and lay them down. They allow love, compassion, and empathy to be taught and caught—truly following after our teacher and friend, Jesus.

Outside the office Becky spends most of her time coordinating and basking in her 5 children and their passions and joys. She also loves soaking up live music, exploring and hiking to be surrounded by creation, and experiencing the new by exploring new foods and new places.

If you would like to contact Becky for counseling, email her at becky@refuge182.com.

Marlea Louviere

Marlea is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor working towards her LPC. She received her Master’s in Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans in 2022. In 2019, Marlea completed one year of graduate studies at Loyola University, focusing on child and family therapy. She loves working with children, adolescents, and families who have experienced trauma, loss, and/or other transitional hardships. She believes it is an honor to be invited into another individual's story. She has a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Studies from Louisiana State University (2018).

She has served as a Crisis Counselor at the Baton Rouge Crisis Counseling Center for 3 years, where she aided individuals across the lifespan facing various struggles such as suicide, depression, anxiety, trauma, and social service needs. She interned at the Baton Rouge Children's Advocacy Center and an anti-trafficking initiative out of the UK, Operation Open Eyes. Marlea worked at Children's Hospital within the behavioral health unit in 2019. She then worked at Loyola University as an Advisor and Success Coach for undergraduate students. She has experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families, specifically in addressing trauma and life issues. She has received training in Child-Centered Play Therapy, Child-Parent Relational Therapy, Story-Informed Trauma Therapy, Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, and Sand Tray Therapy, and she utilizes models such as Trauma-Focused CBT and Seeking Safety.

She is learning and gaining experience using Story-Informed Trauma Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy, and has received training in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI).

If you would like to contact Marlea for counseling, email her at

Marlea@refuge182.com.

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Michelle Dugas

Michelle Dugas is a licensed professional counselor-supervisor (LA #4457). Michelle completed her Master of Arts Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. She completed her bachelor of science degree in engineering from Louisiana Tech University. She has also completed two years of doctoral work in marriage and family counseling at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

After graduation, Michelle began her full-time practice at Celebration Hope Center in Metairie, LA, where she had completed her internship. Trauma and addiction soon became her specializations after counseling individuals and families who had suffered through the trauma of Hurricane Katrina. A traumatic event such as Katrina often brings out the hurt, pain, and abuse in a survivor’s past that have been hidden for many years. Working with clients struggling with the effects of trauma and life’s difficulties has become her passion as she walks with them through therapy to a point of healing and growth.

Michelle also works with clients struggling with substance abuse, marriage difficulties, parent/child issues, anger management, depression, anxiety, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. In addition, she is proactive in therapy with pre-marital counseling, marriage enrichment, and abuse prevention education.

Michelle has been counseling since 2006 in different settings with both inpatient and outpatient clients. She has been a speaker and teacher at the college level and volunteered at the Pine Hills Child Advocacy Center to educate teens and parents about sexual abuse and domestic violence prevention. She has actively been involved in facilitating groups on topics such as marriage enrichment, pre-marital counseling, grief and loss, trauma, and addiction.

Michelle is currently supervising counselor interns and counseling individuals with traumatic pasts as well as those suffering from depression and anxiety.

If you would like to contact Michelle for telehealth counseling or PLPC supervision, please email her at mdugas8387@gmail.com.

Couple During Therapy Session

Talk to Our Professional Therapists

Counselors do not always have openings for new clients. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with one of our counselors, please complete the Counseling Interest Form found under the counseling and professional services page. Our counseling agency is open from Mondays through Saturdays to accommodate you. Go to our About page to find out a deeper understanding of The Refuge 18-2.