Two long-standing private mental health practices in Stratford are merging.
RGA Counseling and Psychological Services and The Space Within are in the midst of an amalgamation, owners Al Voort and Linda Mackay – both registered social workers – recently announced.
“The work for us as owners is to ensure that our therapists and practitioners thrive and, therefore, (so do) their clients,” Mackay said. “We want to be able to … as an organization ensure folks out there in our community know what’s available.”
The combined mental health and wellness practice will include nearly 50 therapists and practitioners with a wide range of specialties, Voort added, including addictions, trauma, chronic pain, and burnout, among others. Both Voort and Mackay also supervise two students who offer in-office and virtual sessions at reduced fees.
“We can streamline things a little bit, so there’s going to be one website, one place to go for referrals, one phone number, and to me that makes sense,” Voort said. “Of course, there’s also just being able to provide some really great services to the community by combining both agencies. I can’t think of another community the size of Stratford that has a private clinic with over (40) counsellors.”
RGA was established more than 35 years ago by psychologist Rick Graff. Voort, also an alternate dispute resolution and family mediator who specializes in work with children, adolescents and their families, purchased the practice from its previous owner about two years ago.
Mackay opened The Space Within about 10 years ago in partnership with Karen and Bill James-Abra, who recently retired. She was previously part of the University of Waterloo’s psychological and counseling services.
Services are not expected to be interrupted during the merger, Mackay and Voort said, and the new organization will continue to operate both of their sites on Huron Street and Market Place.
The new organization doesn’t yet have a name, but many therapists under its umbrella are accepting new clients.
“Waitlists are very short, which is really nice,” Voort said. “There are certainly some newer counselors that are just excellent who are taking clients on right now.”