Welcoming the new open ear of the Refuge House

Mike Johnson
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Sexual and domestic violence for most people is something that they do not want to talk about or they try to forget about it. They lock it up and hide it in some of the darkest places inside themselves like it's a dirty little secret. Handling this secret in the fashion of locking it up inside is not the way to solve the problem. Doing so can cause emotional and physical harm to you and your loved ones.
The Refuge House here in Monticello is a safe place where you can go and express yourself and your feelings about these horrific events. The Refuge House has a fantastic team willing to stand up and back you during this time of crisis, even if it is just an open ear to let everything out. They just hired a new Sexual Violence Counselor, Mikaela Fisher, to help with these acts of cruelty.
Fisher moved down in February from Kentucky, where she worked for the juvenile system helping young ladies being re-introduced to society. Working with these young ladies, she relived that the cause of most problems did not come from them just acting up but underlining issues either from home or their community. Fisher helped these females by taking them to school, working with them on their homework, reinforcing the facility's rules and guidelines and helping them understand why the rules are there.
Doing these activities, Fisher decided that she wanted to become a counselor and help others. She went to Morehead State University in Kentucky, where she graduated in May of 2020 and received her Bachelors in Criminal Justice and Sociology with a minor in Gender Studies.
Fisher believes that the world needs to shine a bright light on the subject of sexual violence and domestic abuse. Having personal relations in this field, she understands how it can get swept under the rug and no one wanting to speak up about it. Fisher wants the world to know that it is okay being scared to say anything, but there are many ways of getting it out in the open and that only good can come from it. In her studies, she found that in rural areas, many people have been violated in some form. Most of these crimes have been committed by some type of family member, which causes people to be afraid to say anything for that family is all they have or everyone knowing everyone and don't want it to spread like a forest fire.
The Refuge House and Fisher both want people to know that they offer many different approaches to helping solve these problems. Most people believe that criminal charges can only solve it, but that is not true. One way is just getting the pressure of what happens to you off your chest and not holding on to that secret can help with closure. Just letting someone know that it happened and having that person to talk to and understand is a huge first step and helping step. They can also help you take these issues to civil court and have them trialed there. In a civil case involving sexual assault, instead of suing for “sexual assault,” the accuser sues formally for charges such as assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress or false imprisonment.
Fisher wants to let everyone know that she and the Refuge House team is there for everyone, and no action will be taken or has to be taken till you are ready. They are a resource that anyone can use to help overcome these incidents that occurred. The team is always there for when you want to talk. You can call or text Fisher anytime at (850) 556-2084 or email her at mfisher@refugehouse.com.