Founder retires from Relationship Clinic after 18 years

FORT PAYNE, Ala. (AP) - After 18 years of working in Fort Payne, Relationship Clinic founder Dr. Arlene McFarland announced her retirement.

McFarland worked for several years in the profession of nursing, and she earned a doctorate in parent-child nursing consultation. However, she also became a marriage and family therapist, and she opened the Relationship Clinic in Fort Payne upon receiving her license by the Alabama Board of Marriage and Family Therapy.

“We moved here and I had a doctorate in nursing, but I didn’t want to drive to Chattanooga or Huntsville,” McFarland said. “I had master’s in marriage and family therapy. I opened the clinic here in 2006, but I worked out of my home before that.”

At the Relationship Clinic, McFarland worked with children, parents and families on a plethora of issues, and she said her work with the clinic has been “rewarding” on a daily basis.

“I get to see wonderful people everyday and help them through confusing situations and struggles,” she said. “I see individuals, children, couples and sometimes the whole family. It’s very rewarding and I love it. But I’m 68 years old, and my husband has been retired three years. He’s been waiting for three years to see when I would join him in retirement.”

Dr. Samantha Haleseh will take over the Relationship Clinic on Jan. 1, 2017.

“It was a great source of joy to see the strength that is demonstrated by everyone who walks through that door,” McFarland said. “The people I work with are an inspiration to me. Everyone who comes here works really hard. It’s really hard being a human sometimes.”

The Relationship Clinic is located at 216 Gault Ave N, Fort Payne, AL 35967. It is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The clinic specializes in anxiety, depression, marriage counseling, family therapy, grief and trauma.

“My years at Relationship Clinic have been filled with many rich experiences and valuable relationships,” McFarland said. “I hope that each person who had the courage to come for help left with wisdom and truth to navigate the future. You will always be my heroes.”

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Information from: Fort Payne Times-Journal, https://www.times-journal.com