Mental health clinic to open in Richland

RICHLAND — 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.”

The lot was previously a contaminated gas station site, bought by the city roughly 10 years ago, according to Richland Mayor Tom Hoekstra. He said the property was sold to Agan for $1 in an effort to stimulate the local economy. The mental health service was icing on the cake.

“First of all, it goes back on the tax rolls, all we’ve been doing is mowing it,” he said. “We’ve got a dental clinic, a medical clinic, and now we’re going to have a mental health clinic … and it helps fill the square back in too. That’s my greatest concern, that we’ve got a business district uptown that had kind of become dormant.”

Samantha Agan’s husband Jacsen Agan said that his business, Agan Contracting LLC, will occupy the back half of the new building, where he will store equipment and materials. He plans to have a small office there, too.

“I do post-frame, residential stick-frame, decks and a little bit of everything,” Jacsen said.

Apart from New Thoughts Therapy in the front portion of the building, the Agans plan to host two other businesses.

“We’ve had multiple inquiries, but we’re not quite sure what businesses are going there yet,” Samantha said.

Samantha is a local gal who attended Pekin schools throughout her childhood and graduated from Pekin High School in 2010. Jacsen grew up not too far away in Knoxville. They said they are both excited to be part of the rapid development occurring in Richland.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com