New mental health clinic opened by Albany couple to help service city’s high demand for assessments

A new mental health clinic run by a Great Southern couple has opened in Albany this week to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for mental health services.

Masters & Co Psychology opened the doors to their new Albany office on Thursday, ready to service the needs of the wider Great Southern community.

Rochelle and Julian Masters have returned to their hometown from Perth where they have been running mental health clinics for a decade.

The couple hope their private practice can play a part in assisting people diagnosed with mental health illness.

“The need for mental health care (in Albany) is great,” Ms Masters said.

“There are already men and women doing incredible things in Albany and the surrounds to address the mental health needs.

“We wanted to set up something to contribute to the mental health care needs in the city of Albany and we’ve taken the opportunity.”

Their Albany branch will offer cognitive assessments, clinical psych and psychology services for a broad range of needs including family and kids therapy, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma and relationship counselling.

Ms Masters said they were hoping to make a difference within the Great Southern community.

“We really care about giving back to the community so we will be engaging with the community, engaging with professionals like GPs, paediatricians, psychiatry and associated professionals that do contribute to the broader needs,” she said.

“We want to be able to reach for and service needs broadly.

“We see all ages and most diagnoses … people can come as they are and we’ll do our best to attend to their needs with evidence-based care.

“We care to reduce the suffering associated with mental illness.”

The clinic is open five days a week on St Emilie Way in the Albany CBD.

City of Albany councillor and doctor Thomas Brough said more mental health services in the region were vital.

“There are phenomenal psychological support services available in Albany,” Cr Brough said.

“Private practice and public practice and we’ve got one of the best mental health services in the hospital in the State but that said there is a big demand.

“Having a new business come to town to help service that demand is only good for the community.”