Owners and city representatives of Richland gathered at a groundbreaking ceremony on June 7 for an office building that will house a new therapy office, among other business spaces. The community celebrated a similar ceremony for a child care center on the same day.
Owner Samantha Agan said she planned to launch her own therapy private practice this week called New Thoughts Therapy through telehealth, but would begin in-person sessions once the building is finished, tentatively in August.
She said she chose to open her own office to ensure a more manageable workload, and for an opportunity to work in the community where she grew up.
“I’m feeling good,” she said. “Just like anything in life, change can be scary, but you never know what good can come unless you do make changes. So I’m feeling good.”
Agan, who previously worked at a practice in Washington, said the need for therapists was dire, citing that office’s waiting list of around 80 people.
“It’s very hard, I have people calling me from Des Moines … because they just can’t find anyone local,” she said. “Hopefully it makes a big impact. The schools around here have multiple people that come in and it’s still just not enough.”