Our History

The Rutherford County Psychotherapy Association has been a long-standing effort among local mental health professionals, built over the years through the dedication of many individuals who believed in the value of connection, collaboration, and referral within the community. While some details have naturally faded with time, the story of RCPA reflects a shared commitment to supporting one another and strengthening mental health services in Rutherford County.

Jeff Viers joined RCPA around 2004. At that time, attendance was small, and as he recalls, Janice Barkley, Phil Barkley, Melanie Hamilton, Crystal Moon, Rhonda Johnson, and Jeff Viers were among the primary people attending meetings. The group met at Trinity United Methodist Church on Jones Avenue, and Jeff served as secretary for one to two years. During those early years, RCPA distributed brown card stock referral guidebooks to physicians around Murfreesboro, and those directories helped generate referrals for members. In fact, Anne Marie Hall later recalled seeing one of those printed books early in her career and thinking how meaningful it would be to one day have her own name included—a sign that she had truly arrived as a professional.

As time went on, membership and attendance began to dwindle. Eventually, Phil Barkley made a motion to dissolve the group, and the motion was approved by vote. The remaining funds in the bank were donated to The Exchange Club, and for a period of several years, RCPA became dormant.

A few years later, as the population of Rutherford County began to grow rapidly, the need for a professional network among therapists became clear again. Around 2008 or 2009, there seemed to be more and more new therapists appearing across the area, and with that growth came renewed recognition of the importance of knowing one another as colleagues and referral partners. That realization sparked the effort to bring RCPA back.

With the help of April Broussard, LCSW, Robert DeSalvo, LCSW, Catherine Capelli, PhD, and Dr. Jennifer Hanket, RCPA was restarted on a small scale. Early meetings in this renewed chapter were hosted at an outpatient memory care facility near Heritage Park, possibly called Reflections or Generations. Later, Anne Marie Toy and Tracey Robison joined, and meetings began to be held at Branches near the old K-Mart, where the Branches staff also became involved. Dr. Brynda Quinn played an especially important role in moving RCPA into its next phase by helping establish its online presence. As the organization and the internet evolved, the printed directory eventually gave way to a website with a searchable directory, and business cards with website information were shared with referral partners who had once relied on the printed books.

For many years, quarterly meetings have continued to provide opportunities for connection and collaboration among area mental health professionals. These gatherings have taken place in a variety of locations throughout the community, made possible by the generosity of those who shared their space. Membership has naturally changed over time, but the heart of the organization has remained strong. RCPA has endured because of the many professionals who invested their time, energy, and leadership to keep the community connected, including those who helped sustain it during especially challenging seasons. Special thanks go to Dr. Deborah Driggs for helping sustain RCPA during the COVID years.

We share this history with deep appreciation for everyone who has contributed to RCPA over the years, and with the understanding that some names or memories may have been unintentionally omitted. We welcome additional historical information so that the story of this professional community can continue to be remembered and honored more fully.

With appreciation:

Brad Anderson, MD

Janice Barkley, LPC

April Broussard, LCSW

Phil Barkley, LPC

Mike Courtney, PhD

Emily Frazier, LCSW

Melanie Hamilton, LCSW

Jennifer A. Hanket, PsyD

Rhonda Johnson, LCSW

Michael Loftis, LCSW

Alesha Martin, LCSW

Crystal Moon, LPC

Lana Norton, LCSW

Brynda Quinn, PhD

Jerry Redditt, LCSW

Larry Seeman, PhD

Murphy Thomas, PhD

Anne Marie Toy-Hall, LPC

Jeff Viers, LSPE