Our Story
The Center for Relationships (TCFR) is a dream of the founder, Dr. Vagdevi Meunier, that started almost 20 years ago with a conversation with colleagues at The University of Texas at Austin. The collaborative dream at the time was to create a family center that provided services and support to new parents by providing a spectrum of services that counseled, educated, supported and facilitated the parents’ ability to raise healthy children.
For almost 10 years, Vagdevi tried to bring groups of people together who shared a similar vision to see if we could all invest in such a center. As the groups evolved, discussed, and shaped this idea, it became clear that the most immediate need was for a center that had a relationship focus.
With the help of two close colleagues, Dr. Shirley Cornett and Ms. Kate Harrington, two post-graduate interns and two trainees, we started to offer services as well as training on relationship work in the summer of 2015. Very soon it became clear that The Center’s mission was best served by creating a more comprehensive vision for our future. In accordance with our newly articulated vision, we launched a training institute and a research program in addition to our existing counseling and community education areas. Since our founding, the vision of The Center has been reviewed and revised to best demonstrate the impact of our organization. Our vision as of 2023 is articulated as follows:
The Center for Relationships is a community services agency that seeks to provide therapy, training, research and community outreach and education to the greater Austin community with a core focus on building healthy relationships at every level of human experience. Our mission and motto is Inspiring Love.
Based on our guiding principles of compassion, empathy, equality and social justice, every member of this organization pledges to embody our passion for holistic health, flourishing relationships and our celebration of diversity and innovation in our professional work both inside The Center and out in the community. Learn more about our mission here.
Our Mission:
Inspiring Love
At The Center for Relationships, our mission is to inspire love in all aspects of life. We believe in the power of authentic love for oneself and others, and we strive to embody and promote this core love in everything we do. Through our actions, teachings, and guidance, we aim to inspire individuals to discover and embrace the true meaning of love.
Love is a fundamental concept at The Center for Relationships, and we are dedicated to exploring its depths and understanding its various dimensions. Our core belief is that love is a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. With this in mind, our purpose is to provide inspiration and guidance, enabling you to nurture and expand the love within yourself. We are here to support your pursuit of autonomy, self-awareness, and self-care, which are the pillars that foster personal growth and fulfillment.
Our ultimate objective is to assist you in defining your own unique understanding of love and discovering ways to integrate it into every facet of your life. Whether it's your relationship with a partner, friendships, family connections, cherished individuals, or most significantly, your relationship with yourself, we aim to provide the tools and insights necessary to foster love in all these realms.
By encouraging you to embark on this journey of self-led love, we hope to empower you to cultivate meaningful connections, establish healthy boundaries, and nurture your own emotional well-being. Together, let's embark on a path of love and self-discovery, unlocking the boundless potential that lies within you.
To fulfill our mission, we employ a three-fold approach: Mindset, Method, and Magic.
Mindset is the foundation of our work. We strive to understand all that it means to be human, building awareness and holding space for each individual's unique experiences. We honor the authenticity of every person and promote genuine connections. Compassion, care, and a commitment to self-care are key principles that guide our mindset.
Method encompasses the tools and techniques we employ in our therapy and education services. We draw from proven methodologies and the best relationship models to offer comprehensive support. Our integrative, cohesive perspective ensures that we provide holistic guidance tailored to the individual needs of our clients.
Magic represents the essence of our approach. We bring our authentic selves to every interaction, fostering a grounded and transformative environment. Our strength-based approach focuses on highlighting the strengths and potentials of each individual. We embrace creativity, novelty, and playfulness as catalysts for personal growth. Through co-construction and appreciative inquiry, we empower individuals to explore and redefine their relationship with love.
At The Center for Relationships, we believe that everyone deserves to experience love in its purest form. We invite you to join us on this inspiring journey as we cultivate love, inspire self-discovery, and create a world where love is celebrated and cherished.